IT WAS a rather frustrating start to the new year with our runners at Cheltenham as we started the day thinking we had plenty of very good chances but for one reason or another it wasn’t the beginning to 2020 we hoped for and Champ was obviously the most high profile ‘loser’ of the day. He was travelling really well and I thought his jumping was excellent but he seemed to get distracted approaching the second last and ultimately paid the price for his lack of concentration. Barry said he was tanking all the way round and seemed to have the race sewn up but he just never picked up and crashed through it. He was quite sore in his shoulder afterwards and is still a little bit stiff now but I’m quite keen to give him another run before Cheltenham as you can’t go into an RSA off the back of a crashing fall like that so we’ll have a look at something like the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot.
Altior was given an entry in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot and we also have the option of the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton a week earlier. His abscess has cleared up fine and he’s in rude health so we’ll make a decision very shortly; probably Sunday once I’ve spoken to the Pughs.
Marie’s Rock was very impressive at Taunton and I would very much like to run her again before Cheltenham as she only jumped four hurdles and needs more experience. I have her and Floressa to think about and keeping them apart could be difficult as they are two extremely good fillies so, all being well, I think we could have quite a strong hand in the Novice Fillies division at the Festival.
️“She’s done that twice now – that turn of foot is very potent."
Owners of unbeaten Marie’s Rock dreaming of Cheltenham Festival success >>>https://t.co/9B1iSzkBk5 pic.twitter.com/fCJHCw0yTw
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 2, 2020
Epatante probably won’t run again until the Unibet Champion Hurdle as she doesn’t really need to but Call Me Lord could head up to Haydock for the New One Unibet Champion Hurdle Trial on 18th January and I also need to get another run into Pentland Hills, although where that will be I haven’t decided yet; maybe the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.
Mister Fisher is doing well and we might consider the Scilly Isles Novice Chase at Sandown for him and Precious Cargo is a possible for something like the Lightning Novice Chase, over two miles, at Doncaster.
SANDOWN
12:15 Unibet Casino Juvenile Hurdle
Palladium (Nico de Boinville)
He was a fair maiden on the flat for Martyn Meade and was extremely unlucky not to make a winning debut over hurdles for us at Warwick when he was finishing fast at the death but just failed to reel in the winner (who was receiving 7lbs) and he also managed to rip off a front shoe so it was an extremely good effort all things considered. There aren’t many runners and he handled soft ground on the flat so I’d be quite hopeful he can go a place better this afternoon.
2:25 G1 Unibet Tolworth Hurdle
Son Of Camas (Nico de Boinville)
Whatever went wrong, went wrong at Punchestown last spring but he hasn’t looked back since and posted two excellent efforts in a bumper and over hurdles at Newbury so now we’re going into the deep end but we’ve always liked him and we’ll know what level we’re at after today. His jumping is very good and we’ve done plenty of schooling to keep his eye on the ball and he put in a very good piece of work on Tuesday. Fiddleontheroof looked good over course and distance last time so is the obvious one but I like our horse a lot and he certainly won’t disgrace himself.
3:35 Read Nico de Boinville’s Unibet Blog Handicap Hurdle
Gunnery (Nico de Boinville)
I suppose it would be nice for Nico to win a race named after him so I hope he’s on the right one! Gunnery was very impressive at Doncaster and has come out of it in very good form so we’ve decided to get him out again under a 6lbs penalty as I’m sure he’s going to get walloped by the Handicapper. He’s a very good jumper and loves the ground so as long as he’s fully over Sunday’s exertions, I’m confident he has every chance.
Mill Green (Jerry McGrath)
He’s ultimately a good ground horse but has plenty of ability and this looks a good starting point to get him out. The drop back to 2m shouldn’t be a problem on this track and hopefully he can run a sound race.
