Weekend Review

So an informative weekend has now passed. Good racing took place at both Aintree and Chepstow. So what have we learnt from thr weekends action.

Master Minded was hugely disappointing and there must be serious doubts about it for the rest of the campaign. Reported beforehand that he was in fine shape travelled well and jamp well in the main, he made a maistake 3 out and could never get on terms. The winner Albertas Run scrambled home from a horse rated 136 and no better than a good handicapper. Albertas Run will benefit from this run and this shows us he is still in decent form. However judging this race from a form perspective is difficult and it remains to be seen what this race tells us.

Edgardo Sol grabbed all the headlines for the wrong reasons. Gritty and brave under a superb Ruby Walsh ride the jockey fell foul to the rules and got banned for 5 days. Many felt this was harsh and i agree - the rules have to change. I dont think there is a single person who saw this race thought that the winner was getting beat up by the whip. My fancy Haventgotascoobydoo was just getting intot he race when making a mistake and coming to grief. If none the worse for this fall remains a horse open to improvement and i still believe this could be a serious animal.

As for Hazy Toms race i cant sum it up better than the racing post report. HAZY TOM maintained his unbeatenrecord on this switch to hurdling, but had to pull out all the stops to do so. He hit the first flight and proved free off the moderate pace, but continued to lack fluency even as the pace lifted. His class saw him home on the run-in, though, and there´severy chance this trip was too short for him. It will be very interesting to see how he fares under a penalty.

Harry The Viking won the first race at Chepstow and the first two pulled well clear suggesting that this was a decent performance. Reported to be going over fences next this horse looks one to follow. Although Dualla Lord was baten in the second division of this race he travelled like the best horse in the race and for me was found out due to lack of fitness on his first run of the season. Expect this to make amends soon.

A competitive edition of a Grade 2 novice hurdle which has been won by some smart performers over the years. This renewal looked up to scratch on paper and we could well have seen a future star in FINGAL BAY, who was really impressive on this hurdlesdebut.

Winner of an Exeter bumper on his sole previous sighting, the five-year-old jumped slickly for a debutant and showed in front down the far side. Shaken up between the last two flights, he came away for a ready success and can certainly improveon the bare form with the experience behind him.

The Hobbs team won this race in 2001 and 2002 and had sent out several seconds in it since, including subsequent Arkle winner Captain Chris last year. Fingal Bay could well have Cheltenham aspirations too, although there is a long way to go until March. He needs a bit of cut in the ground.

Fingal Bay for me is a star in the making and on this performance he is one to follow and perhaps back ante post for Cheltenham.

Tatianio returned to form and jamp in the main very well. He put a couple of class horses to bed here and if allowed to dominate at the head of the field will be a dangerous horse for any race he turns up in.

On Sunday we saw Champion Court win the useful novice chase, this race has been won by some star performers over the years but Champion Court will have to jump alot better if he is to have a live chance at Cheltenham in March.

BARBATOS, who already had an official mark of 121, has plenty of substance and went about winning in willing style. Horses that have gone onto be useful chasers have won this novice in the past like Massasoit and Wichita Lineman, and given this grey´s frame, one would imagine that connections hope he´ll develop in a similar way.

The horse i was most looking forward to watching over the weekend was Royal Guardsman. Looking at the bare result you would think this was a disappointing run, however having watched the race a few times i am a bit more positive. He took a pull early on and was then forced to travel wide. He loomed up looking a threat and travelled really well however found nothing and faded. The excuse comes from the jockey who is believed to have hit the horse unintentially over the head a few times. I would not give up on this one yet and look forward to better next time.

This weekend a quality field has been declared for the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby. I have to say i have fond memories of Ollie Magern running them ragged round the track. One year in particular his jumping kept him in it and was clear approcaching the last. He then got tired and was collared close home. Lets hope for another exciting race come Saturday.