26th December Post-Racing Notes

A quick word on Friday's racing with a few notes to take, mainly on the action at Kempton: 

Harry Fry's Jollyallan showed real class to win the opener

Jollyallan ran very well to win the first and is a fine-looking horse - hopefully readers of the King George guide may have taken note of how profitable it is to follow Harry Fry at Kempton. The Mullins horse he beat, Sempre Medici, could also turn out to be a fine horse if there were to be a big improvement in his jumping, but the way he blundered the last hurdle summed up the huge progress still to be made in his jumping if he is to get anywhere. It was only his second start, but he has made clear jumping errors in both starts to date which would have set him back a great deal, and so he looks to have serious potential if Mullins can sort that out. The winner, on the other hand, has quotes as short as 16/1 for the Supreme after that impressive victory.

Stellar Notion also ran very well and found that little bit extra in the tank to win the novices handicap chase, but it should be noted that Knock House, the horse who put him under pressure approaching the line, brings his record at Kempton to a win and 3 places from 4 runs, and should definitely be watched in future starts at the course. 

It was a truly terrible renewal of the Feltham Novices Chase (now called the Kauto Star Novices Chase), with 4 of the 7 runners falling, and Coneygree winning at ease. With Dynaste and Long Run among the past winners of what is a very respected contest, it was a pity to see jumping errors from so many horses and the race itself was a bit of a farce. Coneygree finished 40 lengths ahead of Warden Hill in 2nd, and so didn't face any real test, but his jumping was extremely solid and he really looks like one to watch. He stayed on strongly and jumped fantastically, and was really the only upside to a bad, bad race.

Faugheen the Machine is now 5/4 Champion Hurdle favourite

In the Christmas Hurdle, Faugheen proved himself once more in possibly his most impressive display yet. He won effortlessly, tracking Blue Heron comfortably all the way around before taking the lead two out and clearing away to win by 8 lengths. He made a mistake jumping the last which may be a worry to his supporters, with slight jumping errors the only thing tarnishing his fantastic record to date. However, it's hard to take anything away from him, and it's clear to see that in Faugheen, Mullins really does have a machine. A Champion Hurdle featuring Faugheen, The New One and Jezki among others is a truly mouth-watering prospect - as we say so many times throughout the winter, roll on March!

A quick note on the action in Ireland before I finish up with the King George - at Leopardstown, Mullins' other exciting novice from last season, Vautour ran in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novices Chase, also bidding to defend an unbeaten record. The going was officially soft (and realistically very soft) and it was only the second time in his career that Vautour wouldn't have Ruby Walsh on board, as he was on the other side of the Irish Sea in Kempton, where he rode Faugheen in the Christmas Hurdle and Champagne Fever in the King George. Vautour's jumping was not impressive on Friday, with a slight mistake at the 3rd followed by a serious mistake at the 7th when he was very lucky to stay on his feet, and it took him a while to recover before he was back in a position where he'd like to be before the second last jump. When the pressure came on, though, Vautour didn't show up and it was Clarcam that won impressively with Vautour and Ted Veale in a dead-heat for 2nd.

Vautour disappointing but Clarcam an exciting prospect

So, where does this leave Vautour on the road to Cheltenham? Well, the going wouldn't have suited, and although he has won two races on soft to heavy in the past, both wins were pretty unspectacular - in other words, we don't see him at his incredible best unless the going is a bit better. Secondly, the mistake would have had a big impact on his run, and it certainly didn't help his case when Clarcam began to challenge. And thirdly, he wasn't beaten by a bad horse - Clarcam looks a very good prospect for Gordon Elliott, a very exciting novice. Willie Mullins has said that he has put a line through the run and that seems the general attitude from most punters too with Cheltenham in mind.

Also in Ireland, Gilgamboa won the feature race in Limerick, the Grade 2 Shannon Airport Novice Chase. This extremely impressive display was one of the highlights of Boxing Day/St Stephen's Day racing in Britain or Ireland and it seems that in Gilgamboa, Enda Bolger has a very good horse on his hands who is developing into a serious chaser, with two good wins over fences to his name from two starts. The Irish Arkle should be on the cards next and then we'll see where they go from there.

Finally, the King George was the big one at Kempton and Silviniaco Conti was at his brilliant best to win the race for a 2nd year in a row. He made virtually all the running and jumped superbly, and seems to be in the form of his life. There are still question marks for me over whether he's a Cheltenham horse, and he could turn out to be one of those fantastic horses which really deserves a Gold Cup but fails to ever win one simply because he's not suited to the course - only time will tell. 

Silviniaco Conti's in the form of his life as he wins second King George

Dynaste ran a great race to finish 2nd and he also seems to be in the form of his life after good displays in both the Betfair Chase and this, despite probably not appreciating how much the extra rain got into the ground on Friday. It will be interesting to see if connections are brave enough to send him to the Gold Cup. Al Ferof finished 3rd and showed his potential yet again. Champagne Fever ran well to compete with Conti for the lead all the way around, but faded away towards the finish and going by this evidence might be best over slightly shorter - disappointing for all those, including myself, who had hoped to see him in the Gold Cup this year. 

Unfortunately Cue Card couldn't put in the same performance as last season and a bad error on the 8th fence realistically was probably not the main reason he only managed 5th. Menorah was the real disappointment for me, and again it was probably a bad blunder that finished him off in the race, but he wasn't impressive up until that point either.

Anyway, they're just some notes and pointers after and extremely busy day of racing which may come in handy for entries into the tracker or Cheltenham ante post ventures. The 3 big names to take from Friday, though, without a doubt - Gilgamboa, Silviniaco Conti and Faugheen.