16th February 2010- MASTERSTROKE
He's back! Despite doing his utmost to demolish the final fence and fire Ruby Walsh into orbit, Master Minded demonstrated dramatically at Newbury on Saturday that he is still the outstanding two-mile chaser in training.
Sure, you can pick holes in the Game Spirit form- runner-up Mahogany Blaze made two shuddering blunders and Voy Por Ustedes, the second-favourite, now clearly needs further than an extended two miles- but Master Minded travelled with all his old zest and did more than enough to convince me that he is well worthy of his lofty mark of 178.
Indeed, there were exciting signs of that devastating performer of two years ago and I wouldn't (if I was allowed to!) bet against him nudging his mark back into the 180's at Cheltenham next month.
Not surprisingly, bookmakers immediately slashed Master Minded, who had jumped spectacularly until over-exuberance so nearly caused his last-fence downfall, to odds-on to clinch his Champion Chase hat-trick.
On ratings, he holds a clear edge over those closest to him in the Cheltenham market with Kalahari King and Twist Magic on 166 and 173 respectively.
16th February 2010- SHORT RUN FOR LONG RUN
Meanwhile, at Warwick, another outstanding French import, Long Run, confirmed that he will be a major Festival force, more than likely joining stable-mate Punchestowns in the three-mile RSA Chase.
Long Run, a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and fences in his native land, did not need to run to the 161 of his scintillating Feltham Chase win at Kempton on Boxing Day to follow-up in Warwick's Grade 2 Kingmaker Chase.
It was a bold experiment by Nicky Henderson to drop the five-year-old down to two-miles on Saturday, a ploy which never looked likely to backfire, though front-running King Edmund (140) put up a bold show until outstayed in the home straight, eventually losing second place to the promising multiple Flat and hurdles winner Joe Jo Star (137).
16th February 2010- GET ME TO CHELTENHAM
What is usually one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season, Newbury’s Totesport Trophy, was dominated by the last flight by two horses.
It was the runner up, Ronaldo des Mottes (up 9 to 151) who got the better jump but Get Me Out Of Here was quickly making light of that final flight error to power clear halfway up the run-in. The winner returned with an injury but if he manages to recover in time for Cheltenham his new mark of 150 (up 15) puts him right in the mix for the meeting’s opening race- the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.
Manyriverstocross (up 3 to 138) finished strongly in third suggesting that a return to further might suit, even in such a truly run race. Others who lost little in defeat were the luckless Oldrik and the still relatively inexperienced Any Given Day who was travelling well on the outside early in the home straight before the leaders got away from him. Both of their marks remain unchanged.
16th February 2010- PRESTBURY PLANS
Fiendish Flame could head for the Jewson after his five-length win over southern raider Working Title at Musselburgh, though whether the course at Cheltenham will suit the game front runner so well is questionable. With the second and also the third, Door Boy, both fairly solid-looking in terms of their ratings, a new mark of 142 for Fiendish Flame is readily justifiable.
At Lingfield, Bakbenscher found less pressure on his somewhat dubious jumping due to omitted fences and a modest pace, and he duly landed his second chase success. Two and a half lengths clear of Chariot Charger, who was in receipt of 6 lb, Bakbenshcer is now up to 143. That mark still leaves him some way short of what will be required should he take up his RSA Chase entry, so again connections may be better off going to one of the handicaps at the Festival.
It's been a while since Duc de Regniere competed in the novice chasing division, but he's not had much racing all the same and remains on 148 following a comfortable win in a graduation chase at Kempton, where his record now reads four wins and a second from five starts.
Graded bumpers are few and far between, so the performance of Al Ferof in the grade 2 event which took place at Newbury should be noted. On his first run for Paul Nicholls, Al Ferof stayed on well to keep Made In Time, recently purchased by J P McManus, at bay by five lengths.
A figure of 128 would mean a tilt at the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham would be entirely justified, though plans for the five-year-old are unclear.
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