Tag Archive for: Haddex Des Obeaux

King wary of Jonbon threat to Edwardstone’s title

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Edwardstone returns to the scene of some of his finest triumphs to defend his Betfair Tingle Creek Chase crown on Saturday.

Alan King’s nine-year-old has won on this card for the past two seasons, securing his first Grade One when picking up the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase in 2021 before returning 12 months ago to take home first prize in the feature event of Sandown’s pre-Christmas meeting in emphatic style.

That nine-length success over Greaneteen is the last time Edwardstone has got his head in front, with four subsequent outings bringing little to cheer about.

However, having blown away the cobwebs behind Jonbon in the Shloer Chase, he will now bid to continue his Sandown love affair, with King confirming his Peterborough Chase declaration at Huntingdon on Sunday is only a back-up plan in case wet weather curtails the action in Esher.

The trainer said: “He goes to Sandown and I only put him in at Huntingdon in case Sandown is abandoned. They have got a lot of rain coming in there tomorrow and it is possible.

“He’s going there and the horse is going to have to do the talking now.”

King had previously seen Voy Por Ustedes finish second in both 2006 and 2007 and then saddled Kumbeshwar to chase home Sprinter Sacre in 2012 before finally getting his hands on the Tingle Creek trophy 12 months ago, but he admits Edwardstone faces a stiff task defending his crown against Jonbon.

Edwardstone in action at Cheltenham
Edwardstone in action at Cheltenham (David Davies/PA)

He added: “Of course it’s (nice) to go there (as defending champion) but we didn’t have Jonbon to contend with last year.”

Dan Skelton’s Nube Negra was back in third when defending his Shloer Chase crown at Cheltenham and now has to bounce back to the form that saw him down Altior in December 2020 and also finish runner-up in the Champion Chase the following spring.

Meanwhile, Harry Fry had suggested Boothill would wait for the Clarence House Chase at his beloved Ascot for his return to deep waters, but a rethink sees him take another crack at Jonbon on the back of two taking victories this term that justify leaving handicap company.

The eight-year-old was eight lengths adrift of Jonbon when second in last season’s Henry VIII and Fry said: “I think he deserves another go in Grade One company again.

“On ratings, he’s got a bit to find with the likes of Jonbon, and on the form of the Henry VIII last year, but he seems in great order with himself and you’ve got to be in it to stand any chance of winning it.”

Haddex Des Obeaux is the lowest rated of the field on official figures but was an ultra-progressive performer last term and was in contention to make a winning return at Cheltenham last month before falling at the last with the race in the balance.

He now faces an acid test of his ability, thrust into Grade One company, but Gary Moore hopes there is still more to be seen from the likeable six-year-old.

“It’s a massive day for him and if he can do himself justice, then I would be very happy about it,” said Moore.

Haddex Des Obeaux is upped in class at Sandown on Saturday
Haddex Des Obeaux is upped in class at Sandown on Saturday (Nigel French/PA)

“I’m fully aware it is not going to be easy for him but he does love soft ground and jumping, so he’s got that on his side, as far as I’m concerned.

“He will have 100 per cent come on for his outing at Cheltenham and he can only improve.

“I go there with an open mind and if you aren’t in them, you can’t win them. If we run into place money, then so be it.”

Cheltenham or Sandown under consideration for Haddex

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Haddex Des Obeaux has either a Cheltenham return for the Shloer Chase or the Tingle Creek on his agenda following his last-gasp fall at Prestbury Park on Saturday.

Trainer Gary Moore has a strong hand in the two-mile chasing division and is aiming high with the Ollie Harris-owned six-year-old who was on a real upwards curve before a setback last season and appeared set to resume his progress on his racecourse return until his agonising final-fence departure.

He is reported to be none the worse for that tired fall in his first outing for 287 days and his handler has highlighted another outing over the undulations of Prestbury Park in the Shloer Chase on November 19 or a first crack at a Grade One at Sandown in early December as his possible options.

Haddex Des Obeaux is a chaser on the rise
Haddex Des Obeaux is a chaser on the rise (Nigel French/PA)

“He seems fine,” said Moore. “He was running a nice race, it was just a bit of a tired fall in his first run for a long time. He was jumping pretty good up until then.

“It will either be the Shloer next or he will go straight for the Tingle Creek.”

Haddex Des Obeaux and eventual winner Dancing On My Own were matching strides heading to the final fence of the Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase, but Moore is unsure what would have happened if his young chaser had stayed on his feet.

“I wouldn’t like to say, but what I would say is Racheal Blackmore went for her horse a lot earlier than Jamie (Moore, jockey) has gone for him,” continued Moore.

“But the way Henry De Bromhead’s horses are running at the minute, he would probably have beaten Haddex Des Obeaux anyway.”

Haddex Des Obeaux and stablemate Editeur Du Gite are both by the same sire in Saddex and the latter, who won last season’s Clarence House Chase, will return at Exeter on November 10 before attentions turn to further big-race assignments over two miles.

Editeur Du Gite (right) on his way to winning the Clarence House Chase
Editeur Du Gite (right) on his way to winning the Clarence House Chase (David Davies/PA)

“He’s fine and, all being well, he goes to Exeter for the Haldon Gold Cup,” added Moore.

“He could run in the Shloer as well. Probably the Shloer and Game Spirit.”

Meanwhile, the Lower Beeding handler is poised to send exciting duo Authorised Speed and Givega novice chasing this term, with both almost ready for a first outing over the larger obstacles.

Authorised Speed will head over fences
Authorised Speed will head over fences (Steven Paston/PA)

“They are both going novice chasing,” said Moore.

“They are nearing a run, Authorised Speed will probably be a week behind Givega, but Givega is ready to go. He was nearly entered at Ascot (on Saturday) but we will save him for the next Ascot.

“I’m thinking two and a half miles, Authorised maybe two, but Givega definitely two and a half miles.”

Haddex Des Obeaux will miss Arkle through setback

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Haddex Des Obeaux will miss the Sporting Life Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, with Gary Moore ruling his progressive novice chaser out for the season.

Since unseating on his chasing debut, the six-year-old has yet to finish outside of the top two and following a handy second to the well-regarded Frere D’Armes at Kempton in November, notched up back-to-back victories at Doncaster and Warwick.

He was sent off the favourite on both of those occasions, but it was at Warwick last month where he earmarked himself as a chaser on the rise – jumping and galloping a useful cast into submission to win the Edward Courage Cup by 19 lengths.

He was due to return to Warwick to take on the mighty Jonbon in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase earlier this month before being a late defector and it appears the setback that caused him to miss that Grade Two contest will also keep him on the sidelines throughout the spring festivals.

“He missed the Kingmaker and he will miss the rest of the season,” said Moore.

“He’s got an injury – it’s not a serious injury but it’s enough to put him out for the rest of the season.

“By the time I get him back the season will be over and he’s too nice a horse to rush back for one race or something.”

Haddex Des Obeaux ridden by Jamie Moore goes on to win The Wigley Support Fund Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase at Warwick
Haddex Des Obeaux ridden by Jamie Moore goes on to win The Wigley Support Fund Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase at Warwick (Nigel French/PA)

By the same sire as Moore’s Champion Chase contender Editeur Du Gite, the Lower Beeding-based handler is now looking forward to Haddex Des Obeaux returning next season where he could become the next Cisswood Stables resident to make his mark in the two-mile chase division.

He continued: “It’s a division I love and hopefully when he comes back he will be able to get up there among the better ones.”

Haddex Des Obeaux decision to be made for Moore

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Gary Moore is pondering his next move with runaway Warwick scorer Haddex Des Obeaux.

The six-year-old opened his account over fences when making all at Doncaster over the Christmas period, and showed improvement when blitzing the opposition from the front off a 6lb higher mark to land the Edward Courage Cup at the weekend.

Haddex Des Obeaux holds an entry for the Godstone Handicap Chase, which was originally due to be run on Friday’s abandoned Lingfield card but has been saved and moved to the Sunday of the track’s Winter Million weekend.

However, having been raised 10lb for his Warwick saunter, the switch has left Moore scratching his head as instead of competing under a 7lb penalty on the original date for the race, the son of Saddex would have to race off his new figure of 146 in the rearranged contest.

He said: “I was very pleased with him and he showed improvement that I didn’t really believe was there.

“I always thought he was a nice horse and my biggest worry was would he act on that testing ground. But the answer to that we found out is he is better on that ground.

“He might have beat a few out of form horses and a few might have underachieved on the day, but I thought he won quite well and he jumped well. He’s only a first-season novice and I was very pleased with him.

“The handicapper has put him up 10lb so he needs to progress again and he’s down to run in what was Friday and is now Sunday – which half mucks me up because if he was to run on Friday he runs with a 7lb penalty, but if he runs on Sunday he has to line up off his new mark which is 10lb higher.

“Whether we run or not it’s something I need to think about and decide on and speak to the owner. He’s come out of the race at Warwick really well, there’s some good prize-money on offer and the only good thing about it is it gives him an extra two days.”

It appears Graded assignments will be handed Haddex Des Obeaux’s way moving forward, with a return to Warwick for the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase and even the Arkle mooted as possible options.

And Moore hopes that further progression from the Olly Harris-owned gelding will see him end the campaign right in the mix with the best of the two-mile division.

“He wasn’t a cheap horse and he could develop hopefully into a decent two mile chaser,” continued Moore.

“The Kingmaker is an option, why wouldn’t you go back there (Warwick). He’s 146 now so handicaps are nearly out of the question.

Wigley Group Classic Chase Day – Warwick Racecourse – Saturday 14th January 2023
Haddex Des Obeaux ridden by Jamie Moore goes on to win The Wigley Support Fund Edward Courage Cup Handicap Chase during the Wigley Group Classic Chase Day at Warwick (Nigel French/PA)

“He’s in the Arkle which if you’d have suggested that two weeks ago I would have said you are crazy – you probably aren’t going to get the ground which improves him at Cheltenham but you never know with this country. Whether we go there or wait for Liverpool I’m not sure.

“He’s going to be running in these races hopefully and there’s nothing better than a good two-mile chaser. It’s probably not the strongest division in Graded races – look at the Clarence House on Saturday, it’s only three runners.”

He added: “He’s got to progress a lot (to reach that level) and I have a lot of respect for the likes of Energumene, Shishkin and Edwardstone – they are very, very good horses.

“He’s got a long way to go to be up with that sort of class but I would love to see him do it for the horse’s sake, the owner and ourselves most of all.”