Tag Archive for: Djelo

Djelo goes the distance with Denman victory

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Djelo scrapped to a tough success in the William Hill Bet10 Get10 On Racing Denman Chase at Newbury.

Venetia Williams’ bay was the 6-4 favourite under Charlie Deutsch in a field of seven for the Grade Two event run over a trip just shy of three miles.

The gelding thrived on the soft going and clearly also enjoyed the extended distance on his first attempt, settled in the early stages by Deutsch before assuming control of the race with two fences to jump.

Djelo got a bit close to the final obstacle but ultimately had plenty in hand and came home three and a half lengths clear of Hitman, who was finishing second in the race for a third successive year.

His Paul Nicholls-trained stablemate Bravemansgame kept on for third, beaten a further six and a half lengths.

Djelo clears the water jump at Newbury
Djelo clears the water jump at Newbury (Steven Paston/PA)

Djelo was cut to 12-1 from 20s by Paddy Power for the Ryanair Chase at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, with Williams favouring the extended two-and-a-half-mile option over his other entry in the two-mile Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Williams said: “A week ago we were running in the Game Spirit and it was only 15 minutes before entries closed that I took a look what was in the Denman and thought ‘we need to be in there as well’.

“We’ve got him in the Ryanair and we’ve got him in the Champion Chase but not the Gold Cup and there are no regrets about that at all. I would say he would go to the Ryanair now. He’s a King George horse for next season. He’s got better with maturity and it will be straight to Cheltenham now.

“He’s quite a headstrong horse and you have to be forgiving and I think an element of Windsor was not so much him but Protektorat, because he was brilliant.

“Protektorat was ridden with enormous restraint when we beat him at Huntingdon in the Peterborough Chase and we got well away from him, but the same thing happened the other way round at Windsor, the boot was on the other foot.

“We were scratching our heads over tactics and Peter (Davies, owner) and I left it down to Charlie to make up his mind down at the start.

“We didn’t want him being too keen, so he dropped him right out and he settled beautifully, almost to the point that when they turned for home I was wondering when Charlie was going to set him alight. When he did the turbo came in very quickly.

“We can’t do it without the generous owners and their support and I think that is a milestone for both of us. It’s taken us past £1million for the season and we think it has put Peter into second in the owners table.”

Paul Nicholls was pleased with the performances of both Hitman and Bravemansgame, with both now set to head straight to Aintree for the Randox Grand National.

Bravemansgame is now set to head straight to the Grand National
Bravemansgame is now set to head straight to the Grand National (Adam Davy/PA)

Nicholls said: “They’ve both run nice races and will both head to the National now.

“Harry (Cobden) said Bravemansgame keeps a bit to himself and he’s come in here as fresh as paint. He’s had so many hard races over the years and they sometimes just look after themselves a little bit, but the horse has gone round there with his ears pricked loving it.

“They sprinted a bit from two out and the younger legs won the day, but they have both run really nice races. They are both 10, have both been amazing horses and will now both take their chance in the National and I dare say they would love it.

“They both jump well and travel and whether they stay the trip, they’ll have to have a good day the pair of them. But what they will do is jump and travel really well.

“The great thing is Bravemansgame will keep running for another year or two because he looks after himself. He’s gone round there today loving it and he might not quite be as good as he was, but he’s been an amazing horse.

“I think they will both love it round Aintree and I think the one of ours who might be a true unexposed stayer is Kandoo Kid, he’s been round there before and he might run at Kempton two weeks today.”

Djelo demolishes Peterborough Chase rivals

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Djelo devoured the Huntingdon mud to turn what looked a competitive renewal of the Trustatrader Peterborough Chase into a procession.

Narrowly beaten by JPR One when favourite for his reappearance in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter last month, the Ventia Williams-trained six-year-old was a 2-1 chance to go one better and could hardly have been more impressive in the hands of Charlie Deutsch.

After taking a lead from Sarah Humphrey’s stable star Nickle Back for much of the two-and-a-half-mile contest, Djelo was allowed to stride on in front racing down the back straight and in truth the result was not in much doubt thereafter.

With Nickle Back stopping quickly and Minella Drama never threatening to land a telling blow, it was left for Protektorat (6-4 favourite) and Ginny’s Destiny to go in pursuit of Djelo from the home turn, but while both were hard at work the leader was still lobbing along under no pressure whatsoever.

The Williams runner safely negotiated the remaining two fences and came home virtually on the bridle, with Protektorat some six lengths behind in second at the line and Ginny’s Destiny a further seven and a half lengths behind in third.

Coral rate Djelo at 12-1 for the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Trainer Venetia Williams (right) and jockey Charlie Deutsch with Djelo after winning at Huntingdon
Trainer Venetia Williams (right) and jockey Charlie Deutsch with Djelo after winning at Huntingdon (Nigel French/PA)

“I’m so thrilled. I’m thrilled for Pete Davies his owner, for Charlie who has ridden him beautifully and for the horse himself primarily,” Williams told Racing TV.

“It was a wonderful performance. Going to the last down the back I looked behind and thought ‘they’re all in trouble now’. He’s finished behind the second horse before, but that was a complete turnaround today.

“He was third at the Cheltenham Festival in the Turners (Novices’ Chase) and he won three races last year. He’s been progressive ever since his attention was turned to fences and let’s hope that’s continuing.”

When asked about future plans, she added: “I don’t know, ask me tomorrow!

“I’d like to think we’ve got two great flagbearers in the three-mile division with Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse and it’s great that this horse is stepping up to somewhere near that sort of level now.

“He’s been running in handicaps up until now and there’s always the possibility of more of those, but he’s going to be going up quite a bit now.”

Djelo pencilled in for Peterborough run

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Djelo will head to the Trustatrader Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon next month, following his encouraging return at Exeter in the Haldon Gold Cup.

Trained by Venetia Williams, the six-year-old was twice placed at Grade One level during his novice chasing season, firstly when second in the Scilly Isles before filling the final spot on the podium behind Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny in the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

He was sent off the 7-4 favourite for his Exeter reappearance and was staying on strongly when finishing a three-quarter-length second behind Joe Tizzard’s winner JPR One.

Djelo in action at Ascot last season
Djelo in action at Ascot last season (Steven Paston/PA)

Djelo will now creep back up in distance for the two-and-a-half-mile event on December 8, but his trainer feels he remains versatile enough to compete over shorter if ground conditions dictate.

“He will probably go for the Peterborough Chase in a couple of weeks time,” said Williams.

“We will be moving back up in trip a little bit and I think I think it depends on ground (what his trip is). He’s not slow but he did run out of racecourse at Exeter the other day.

“That was on good ground but in testing ground, he still might be effective over shorter.”

Moore happy to keep faith with Noonan on Le Patron

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David Noonan maintains his partnership with Gary Moore’s Le Patron as the pair seek a second Grade One victory this season in the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

Having won the Henry VIII over two miles in early December, Moore is happy to step his charge back up in trip and, given he was not entered for the Arkle, connections seemingly view him as a horse for middle distances.

With stable jockey Jamie Moore still on the sidelines, Caoilin Quinn and Niall Houlihan have been riding the majority of the string, but as Noonan did the steering last time out, he has been entrusted with the ride once again.

“He was pretty good when he won at Sandown last time,” said Moore.

Le Patron put in a great round of jumping in the Henry VIII
Le Patron put in a great round of jumping in the Henry VIII (Steve Paston/PA)

“He’s had a bit of a break with this race in mind, but he’s got to prove it again now.

“I think moving back up in trip is a benefit. When he won first time, and I know it wasn’t a very clever race he won at Fontwell, but it was only good ground that day and I think he will be fine on it.

“David keeps the ride, as I like continuity. He knows where his feet are and he has been good over fences, so I hope he is on Saturday as well.”

Venetia Williams won the race two years ago with L’Homme Presse, who went on to win at the Cheltenham Festival, but it remains to be seen if her Djelo can scale those heights.

Djelo had been impressive until a mishap at Lingfield
Djelo had been impressive until a mishap at Lingfield (Steven Paston/PA)

He looked very good in winning his first three over fences but then Charlie Deutsch had the misfortune of being knocked out of his saddle at the very first fence in the Lightning Novices’ Chase last time out.

“He’s fine since Lingfield and Charlie gave him another pop over the fences on Thursday morning,” said Williams.

“We hope for a bit better luck this time and obviously, as you would expect for a Grade One, it’s a strong race, but he deserves to take his chance.

“This is a much stronger race than anything he has been in before but it is to be expected.”

The Paul Nicholls-trained Hermes Allen could not get close to French star Il Est Francais at Christmas but his time still compared favourably to those in the King George later on the card.

Hermes Allen was a Newbury winner on his chasing bow
Hermes Allen was a Newbury winner on his chasing bow (David Davies/PA)

“He couldn’t lay a glove on the hugely impressive Kempton winner Il Est Francais, who looked like a machine on Boxing Day,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“But he kept on to finish second and I’m sure a stiff two and a half miles will suit him well. There should be plenty of pace, which will be in the favour of Hermes Allen, who worked pleasingly on Thursday morning.”

Hermes Allen had previously recorded a convincing victory at Newbury on his debut over fences, with the reopposing Nickle Back six and a half lengths behind in second.

Jamie Snowden’s Colonel Harry finished just over a length behind Le Patron in the Henry VIII and has subsequently stepped up in trip to win the Grade Two Towton at Wetherby.

Colonel Harry with winning connections at Wetherby
Colonel Harry with winning connections at Wetherby (Nick Robson/PA)

“He’s had a wonderful season over fences so far and just got touched off in the Henry VIII,” said Snowden.

“He improved for going up in trip when winning the Towton last time out and we’ll now have another crack at a Grade One at Sandown.

“It looks a very competitive race, but our chap is in great order; he’s fresh, he’s well and bounced out of Wetherby, and fingers crossed he can run another decent race.”

Colonel Harry sports the same colours as those of Coral Gold Cup winner Datsalrightgino, who suffered a fatal fall at Cheltenham last weekend.

“It was not nice for anybody and to lose a wonderful horse like Datsalrightgino was very hard and very tough for the whole team, the owners and everyone, but hopefully we can bounce back here,” said Snowden.

Lingfield return on the cards for L’Homme Presse

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Venetia Williams has confirmed L’Homme Presse is on track to make his eagerly-awaited return at Lingfield during the Winter Million Festival.

The Cheltenham Festival winner has been on the sidelines since unseating his big-race jockey Charlie Deutsch when booked for second place in the 2022 King George VI Chase, missing out on a return to Prestbury Park for a shot at the Gold Cup last spring.

L’Homme Presse is a general 16-1 chance for the blue riband this time around and his handler has the Fleur de Lys Chase on January 21 inked in as the race where the nine-year-old will be back from over a year off the track.

L’Homme Presse has a Cheltenham Festival victory on his CV
L’Homme Presse has a Cheltenham Festival victory on his CV (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s fine and Lingfield is the plan for the Fleur de Lys,” said Williams. “All being well, he is on course for that.”

Williams also has another talented chaser on her hands in the form of Djelo, who enhanced his growing reputation in Ascot’s Noel Novices’ Chase prior to Christmas.

The six-year-old won just one of his five starts for Williams over hurdles last term but has excelled since switching to fences and, after victories at Aintree and Newbury, took the step up to Grade Two company in his stride when an impressive six-length scorer over Paul Nicholls’ Kandoo Kid.

Djelo has impressed since going chasing this term
Djelo has impressed since going chasing this term (Steven Paston/PA)

It was the first time the gelding had raced over further than two miles over the larger obstacles and his trainer is unconcerned about distance, as she assessed what her charge has done so far and what is possible in the future.

“I was very pleased with him and, like all these horses, it is one step at a time, but each question we’ve asked of him, he’s answered very positively,” said Williams.

“He’s a very different horse to L’Homme Presse, he’s much smaller and different, L’Homme Presse is a big wheel and this horse isn’t.

“I don’t think the trip is that important to him. For the time being, I’m not worried whether it is two or two and a half – I could have run him in the graduation chase (at Ascot) over two-miles-five.”

Djelo hits all the right notes in Ascot victory

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Djelo maintained his unbeaten record over fences with another polished display, this time in Grade Two company at Ascot.

Trained by the in-form Venetia Williams, the diminutive five-year-old only won once over hurdles last season after moving from France but looks a completely different proposition faced with the bigger obstacles.

Having beaten the useful Master Chewy on chasing debut at Aintree he was an easy winner at Newbury last time out.

The form of that race was given a boost just before the off when Nicky Henderson’s Persian Time, who chased him home that day, won a handicap and Djelo had clearly progressed again.

Charlie Deutsch is riding full of confidence at the moment
Charlie Deutsch is riding full of confidence at the moment (Steven Paston/PA)

Few jockeys are riding with more confidence than Charlie Deutsch at the moment and he set him alight at several fences, taking lengths out of his three rivals.

The 145-rated Might I had soon cried enough and only Kandoo Kid was in hailing distance when Djelo made his only mistake in getting too close to the second-last, but he was soon back on an even keel.

The 6-5 favourite was just kept up to his work to win by six lengths.

Deutsch told Sky Sports Racing: “I really enjoyed it, he travelled really well and jumped well apart from the second-last when I had to steady him slightly because I didn’t want to go any faster but I didn’t want to go any slower. Other than that his jumping was electric.

Djelo puts in another good leap on his way to victory
Djelo puts in another good leap on his way to victory (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’d been long at quite a few so I didn’t want to chance it again and just let him run into it, but he picked himself up and jumped the last well.

“He will have learned a bit today and it’s good because it takes a bit of jumping this track.

“He’s a lovely horse, he enjoys his racing and he’s a hardy, racing type, he wants to get on and do it. He does what you need for a top-class chaser.

“I would be happy with today’s trip (two miles and three furlongs), he was a little outpaced the last day, today was more in his comfort zone.”

Let It Rain (8-1) gained some very valuable black type when beating the boys in the Listed Thames Materials Open National Hunt Flat Race.

In what looked arguably the strongest race of its type run in the UK this season with nine of the 13 runners having already won, it was the four-year-old filly trained by Dan Skelton who came out well on top.

A winning favourite on her debut at Warwick against her own sex, she was even more impressive on this occasion and the form has a rock-solid lock to it with Brechin Castle, winner of a similar race at Cheltenham, three and a quarter lengths back in second.

The winner was, though, in receipt of 11lb from the runner-up.

Let It Rain had some nice horses a long way behind her
Let It Rain had some nice horses a long way behind her (Steven Paston/PA)

Jockey Harry Skelton said: “She shows you everything you want to see, she’s like a good woman and everyone needs one of those in their life!

“Bridget (Skelton, wife) has done a lot of work with her and she always said there was something about her – she’s got it all.

“It’s early on in her career, she’s definitely done everything we’ve asked. She’s a long way from where we want to be, but she’s going the right way.

“On paper there were a lot of good horses, lots of winners in there and she was getting the allowance so it was probably a mighty run from the second with his penalty, but we’re delighted with her.”