Tag Archive for: Huntingdon

Califet En Vol boosts The New Lion with Huntingdon success

Califet En Vol paid a compliment to The New Lion when conjuring up a cracking late rally to land the prestigious Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

Nicky Henderson’s 5-4 favourite had previously prevailed by 15 lengths on his jumping debut at Kempton before proving no match for leading Cheltenham Festival fancy The New Lion at Newbury.

The six-year-old looked set for minor honours again after struggling to stay with long-time leader Jax Junior down the home straight and then seeing No Questions Asked sweep past on the inside to challenge at the final flight.

However, Califet En Vol jumped that obstacle well and landed running before powering past to beat No Questions Asked by half a length under Nico de Boinville.

The Listed-class contest has had some notable winners down the years, including former Seven Barrows star Shishkin, and Henderson believes his latest victor has a bright future.

Henderson told Racing TV: “He is a big baby. I was actually staggered where we were standing, how big he actually is.

“He’s deceptive because you walk into his box and he doesn’t look like a big horse, but I just stood into him here on a perfectly level playing field and he’s about two inches taller than I thought he was last night.

“But he stays well. That was two-three and a bit and I’d have preferred two-five and a bit. He’d need further than that.

“The one thing was, that if he was going to be in touch turning in and at the last, you’d be fairly confident he would come home from there, so I thought that was a good performance from a big baby.”

Sidney Banks Raceday – Huntingdon Racecourse – Thursday 6th February
Nicky Henderson during Sidney Banks Raceday at Huntingdon (Bradley Collyer/PA).

Asked about a spring campaign, he added: “I’d say if he went anywhere, you might look at the three miles at Aintree, but I don’t even know that we need to do that.

“It’s only his third hurdle race and he had one bumper last year, so he’s as big a baby as you’d wish to see, but he’s a lovely, great-looking horse – he’ll be chasing next year and it could be a lot of fun.”

Telepathique (11-4) was terrier-like from the front when making all in the Listed-class Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase over two and a half miles.

Lucy Wadham’s seven-year-old began the season on a mark of just 103 but has done nothing but improve since scoring at Fakenham in late October and made it four wins from five outings over fences.

Despite jumping out to the left under Tom Cannon, she was always at the head of affairs and kicked again after a slick jump at the last to see off odds-on favourite Brides Hill by three and three-quarter lengths.

Sidney Banks Raceday – Huntingdon Racecourse – Thursday 6th February
Telepathique ridden by jockey Tom Cannon on their way to winning (Bradley Collyer/PA).

Wadham confirmed her charge will now get an entry for the Mares’ Chase at Cheltenham and said: “She was given a big chance by the handicapper at the beginning of the season, starting on 103, so that did make our job a bit easier.

“But she’s risen through the ranks in an unbelievable way and today was beyond our wildest dreams really.

“It was the first time she’s run right-handed and she jumped out left down the back and I thought we had no chance, but somehow Tom seemed to get her straightened up and she was so quick over the last two fences and put the race to bed.”

Telepathique is owned by her breeders the Lennox family and Wadham added: “I think she didn’t sell at the sales, so they took her home and raced her themselves and here we are. It’s great for them because they’ve been breeding horses for a long time.”



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Super Survivor continues resurgence with Huntingdon success

Super Survivor put himself in contention for a run at the Cheltenham Festival when winning the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on Thursday.

Trained by Jamie Snowden, he was once a staying chaser on the rise and was sent off at only 11-2 for the Welsh Grand National in 2023.

However, having lost his way over the larger obstacles, he has proved rejuvenated for a switch back to timber and having already qualified for the final of the Pertemps season when third at Sandown before Christmas, cemented his credentials with this battling victory.

Snowden would be a keen for a tilt at that contest if soft ground appears in the going description at Prestbury Park, and after scoring as the 3-1 favourite in Cambridgeshire, his odds were duly cut to make an impression in the Cotswolds.

“I’m absolutely thrilled to bits. He was one of the favourites for the Welsh National, but we just lost him, absolutely lost him,” said Snowden.

“He completely lost his confidence and it has taken us a year to get him back. Last time we just saw a glimpse of the old ‘Super’ and he’s done that quite nicely.

“It’s been a good team effort and he qualified for the Pertemps at Sandown earlier in the season so we didn’t come here with the aim of qualifying.

Super Survivor back to winning ways
Super Survivor back to winning ways (Joe Giddens/PA)

“He probably needs to be plus 130 to get in that race so we will see where we go and if it came up soft then he would have a nice weight and it could prove a nice target.

“We could go back over fences one day, but why it’s clicking over hurdles why change it?”

All eyes were on Nicky Henderson as he unleashed €1.4million purchase Palladium and while the Triumph Hurdle hope obliged in division two of the Pertemps Network Maiden Hurdle, he also claimed the opening first division with La Pinsonniere (8-15 favourite) who showed plenty of bravery to hold off Alan King’s Nap Hand.

“She was tough and she was good. Nico (de Boinville) said after Windsor she wasn’t mad with that soft ground and watching her there, she doesn’t pick her feet up a lot and I don’t want it too soft,” said Henderson.

La Pinsonniere opened her account for Nicky Henderson
La Pinsonniere opened her account for Nicky Henderson (Joe Giddens/PA)

“Normally if they’ve gone round Auteuil they love it proper soft, but I’m not sure she does and I’d like to keep her for one of those good races when it dries up a bit. We don’t want to use her up too much when it’s like this.”

Meanwhile, Alastair Ralph’s Phillipa’s Choice (5-2 favourite) may have booked her ticket to a hot contest before the season is out having landed a gamble in the concluding Pertemps Network Mares’ Open Maiden National Hunt Flat Race.

Ridden by Jonathan Burke, she showed plenty of likeable attributes to hold off Slack Alice for a length-and-a-quarter victory.

Burke said: “I was trying to make it a test and get away from the bottom of the straight, but she was just waiting for company.

“I liked her when I rode her at Chepstow and learned plenty about her and I was keen to make it some sort of test today.

“When you win a bumper at this time of year it is not the time to be going hurdling so they may as well go and have a day out now, whether that’s the nice bumper at Sandown before Cheltenham or Aintree.”



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Henderson has Triumph target after winning start for Palladium

A tilt at the JCB Triumph Hurdle remains on the agenda for Palladium, with trainer Nicky Henderson perfectly satisfied with the German Derby hero’s successful jumping debut at Huntingdon.

The colt son of Gleneagles became the most expensive jumps horse ever bought in October after being knocked down to Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of owner Lady Bamford for €1.4million at the Arqana Arc Sale.

The four-year-old won twice on the Flat in Germany, including his Classic triumph in the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg in the summer, while he was last seen finishing last of six behind Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting star Rebel’s Romance in the Preis von Europa in September.

Palladium was an easy-to-back 8-15 favourite under Nico de Boinville for division two of the Pertemps Network Maiden Hurdle, jumping well throughout behind the pacesetting pair of Taxus Baccata and Jack Hyde before he was allowed to stride on leaving the back straight and looked set to win comfortably after pulling clear of the chasing pack.

Nico de Boinville returns victorious with Palladium
Nico de Boinville returns victorious with Palladium (Joe Giddens/PA)

Unconsidered 50-1 shot Wolf Moon emerged as the biggest threat after the home turn and De Boinville had to get a little serious after the final flight, but Palladium found enough when asked to score by two lengths.

Henderson said: “There was pressure because the whole world was going to sit down and watch and probably laugh at us if we had taken him to Huntingdon for a novice (maiden) hurdle and got him stuffed. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and has come on tons. He will be going Flat racing and he is a potential stallion, we’re just having a bit of fun.

“The first thing was did he enjoy it and he did, and he’s got a fantastic temperament. Not every colt is going to take to this game, but he’s lovely and I thought he jumped beautifully – he was big and bold. Nico said he put him in the bottom of a couple just to make him do it that way and he’s won cosily.

“There is a certain amount of relief and you couldn’t find a nicer colt in the world, he has a great attitude to life, which makes a big difference.”

While Palladium’s performance was undoubtedly more workmanlike than spectacular, Henderson is confident improvement will be forthcoming, adding: “He will come on a lot and Nico said he was quite stuffy and I can accept that as he hasn’t done a lot of galloping and these colts do want plenty of work – he’s got a long summer ahead of him.

“He’s the only colt I have and they take a lot more work than a gelding, and I was just a little bit nervous that he might need it. We’ve done lots of schooling but very little galloping and he’s had a good blow. He will have learnt a lot today.

“He can have a 10 out of 10 from me, you couldn’t wish for much more and he’s raced professionally. He was out in front, in behind and has jumped well from beginning to end and took a good blow as well.

“We’re mindful of what’s ahead and he hasn’t had many wind-ups yet.”

Paddy Power eased Palladium’s odds for the Triumph Hurdle – which Lady Bamford’s family sponsors – at the Cheltenham Festival to 16-1 from 12-1, while Coral took the opposite view, going 12-1 from 16s.

His stablemate Lulamba heads the Triumph Hurdle betting at 6-4 with both firms, but Henderson intriguingly raised the possibility of splitting his aces by allowing the hugely-impressive Ascot winner to take on his elders in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

“Lulamba looked very good, but so did he (Palladium) and I think having got this far we might as well have a look at the Triumph,” Henderson continued.

“Our first take is another run would do him good and it almost means Kempton and the Adonis is the obvious place to go, I would think.

“If they have to run against each other in the Triumph then they have to, but we will keep options open.

“I put Lulamba in the Supreme as well and they are two different courses as well, which might be in that horse’s favour, you never know.”

Palladium has major plans beyond Cheltenham, with a Flat campaign that could even include a shot at Melbourne Cup glory in the offing.

Henderson said: “I think he wants to get his toe in the ground to a degree and he doesn’t want it very quick – we will have to think about that when it comes to Flat racing in the summer.

“I’ve trained lots of colts but nothing as high-class as this. The Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot) or something like that is what you might be thinking about for the Flat and I may as well swap these winter woollies, Barbours and flat caps for a tailcoat and a top hat!

“The underbidders were looking at the Melbourne Cup and that might be an option – I wouldn’t mind being out there right now!”



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Palladium makes workmanlike start with victory at Huntingdon

German Derby hero Palladium made a successful start to his career over hurdles with a workmanlike victory at Huntingdon.

Nicky Henderson’s charge became the most expensive jumps horse ever bought in October after being knocked down to Highflyer Bloodstock on behalf of owner Lady Bamford for the sum of €1.4million at the Arqana Arc Sale.

The four-year-old won twice on the Flat in Germany, including his Classic triumph in the Deutsches Derby at Hamburg in the summer, while he was last seen finishing last of six behind Charlie Appleby’s globetrotting start Rebel’s Romance in the Preis von Europa in September.

All eyes were on the colt son of Gleneagles ahead of his highly-anticipated switch to jumping and he was an easy-to-back 8-15 favourite under Nico de Boinville for division two of the Pertemps Network Maiden Hurdle.

Nico de Boinville returns victorious with Palladium
Nico de Boinville returns victorious with Palladium (Joe Giddens/PA)

Having jumped well throughout behind the pacesetting pair of Taxus Baccata and Jack Hyde, Palladium was allowed to stride on leaving the back straight and looked set to win comfortably after pulling clear of the chasing pack.

Unconsidered 50-1 shot Wolf Moon came from out of the pack to emerge as the biggest threat after the home turn and De Boinville had to get a little serious after the final flight, but Palladium found enough for pressure to score by two lengths.

Paddy Power eased the winner’s odds for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival to 16-1 from 12-1, with his stablemate Lulamba heading the market at 6-4. Coral took the opposite view, going 12-1 from 16s for the Triumph.

Henderson said: “There was pressure because the whole world was going to sit down and watch and probably laugh at us if we have taken him to Huntingdon for a novice hurdle and got him stuffed. He thoroughly enjoyed himself and has come on tons. He will be going Flat racing and he is a potential stallion, we’re just having a bit of fun.

“The first thing was did he enjoy it and he did, and he’s got a fantastic temperament. Not every colt is going to take to this game, but he’s lovely and I thought he jumped beautifully – he was big and bold. Nico said he put him in the bottom of a couple just to make him do it that way and he’s won cosily.

“He will come on a lot and Nico said he was quite stuffy and I can accept that as he hasn’t done a lot of galloping and these colts do want plenty of work – he’s got a long summer ahead of him.

“He can have a 10 out of 10 from me and you couldn’t wish for much more and he’s raced professionally. He was out in front, in behind and has jumped well from beginning to end and took a good blow as well.

“We’re mindful of what’s ahead and he hasn’t had many wind-ups yet.”



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Henderson hoping Palladium can put on a show at Huntingdon

Nicky Henderson takes the wraps off the most expensive jumps horse ever bought at Huntingdon on Thursday when German Derby winner Palladium makes his hurdling debut.

Previously trained by Henk Grewe, the Gleneagles four-year-old is still a colt, with Henderson already talking about running him back on the Flat.

On his only outing after his Classic success, he finished last of six, beaten six lengths by Charlie Appleby’s Rebel’s Romance, but that did not stop his new connections paying a record €1.4million for his services.

His new owner, Lady Bamford, sponsors the Triumph Hurdle through construction equipment manufacturers JCB and that race is unsurprisingly on the radar in March.

Henderson said: “He schooled and worked Monday morning and he was really good.

“I’ve run out of juvenile hurdles for him. Kempton was off, so Lulamba had to switch to Ascot and I don’t want to go to Cheltenham with him first time out for obvious reasons.

“Let him start quietly and have a nice time. I don’t know if he will have a nice time, he’s got to prove it there. I fully realise that all eyes will be on him, but we’ve just got to get on and do our job.

“I don’t think I’ve had one with that price tag before, but we’re very happy with him, we’re ready to go.

“There’s no comparison at all with him and Lulamba – he’s going to be a strapping chaser, hopefully.

“We’ll have to cross the bridges as we go, Lulamba is an all-out chaser but Palladium is to go back on the Flat. We’ll have a look at the Triumph if that is suitable, but if not we’ll head back to the Flat, I’ve always thought the Hardwicke (at Royal Ascot) or something like that would be suitable.

“You have to remember, he is still a colt!”



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Freezing weather claims jumps cards on Thursday and Friday

There will be no jumps racing on Thursday or Friday with frozen tracks claiming cards at Newbury, Doncaster and Huntingdon.

Only Ayr has staged National Hunt action so far this week and while Wednesday’s fixture at Taunton goes ahead as planned, another blank spell will end the working week.

Newbury’s clerk of the course George Hill had planned an inspection at 8.30am ahead of Thursday’s card, but was able to make a slightly earlier decision following temperatures of -3C overnight.

He said: “The forecast has unfortunately proved correct, we got down to -3C and it has been freezing since 9pm or 10pm.

“The course is frozen in places and we are forecast 1C or 2C today with the possibility of sleet or snow showers tonight and another freezing night.

“With temperature of 2C or 3C forecast tomorrow, it just won’t be enough”

It is a similar story at Doncaster, where clerk David Attwood has made an early call ahead of Friday’s meeting.

He said: “We got down to -2C and there is still some snow on the course from Sunday which prevented us from fleecing the track, along with the area of waterlogged ground on Bawtry Road, which is also frozen now.

“We are forecast -4C tonight and the same tomorrow, possibly even -5C, so we thought it best to take an early decision now.”

Huntingdon were also scheduled to race over jumps on Friday, but clerk of the course Andrew Morris admitted cancellation was fairly “inevitable” after flooding at the track earlier in the week.

He said: “A bit of an inevitable decision. A combination of the home straight flooding on Monday and though some of that flooding has receded, but there are still areas of the track that would not be safe to race on now.

“And on top of that we’ve had a frost overnight, so it is now frozen in places as well.

“The forecast for the next two days is for even colder temperatures and it is a fairly consistent forecast, so there’s really no prospect for improvement.”

Thursday’s other planned card at Catterick was called off on Tuesday.

Wetherby’s card on Saturday is under threat after an inspection was called for 3.30pm on Wednesday afternoon with prospects also looking bleak at Warwick ahead of its Classic Chase meeting.

An inspection has been called for 8am on Thursday.



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Huntingdon hero Sixmilebridge remains in Festival reckoning

Sixmilebridge kept alive hopes of appearing at the Cheltenham Festival when staying on strongly from the front to justify odds of 2-5 in the Annual Badges On Sale Now Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

Fellow recent scorer Land Afar gave the market leader a decent workout but a slick leap at the last flight helped Kielan Woods and Sixmilebridge to pull four lengths clear.

Now trained by Fergal O’Brien after featuring in the Champion Bumper for Ben Pauling last term, the six-year-old stayed unchanged at 66-1 with Paddy Power for the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

O’Brien told Racing TV: “He’s turned up and he’s done the job, so he’s 2-1-1 for us now. He’s a lovely horse, he’s a very exciting horse for the future and I’m delighted to have him.

“I think we’ll go to Cheltenham for Trials day next, I think there’s a Grade Two there for him, and I think he’s earned that.

“We did enter him in the Challow, that’s what we think of him, but we swerved that to come here and get a bit more experience and then hopefully on to Cheltenham.

“It’s where he needs to go next and that will tell us what route we need to take after that. He’s qualified for the EBF at Sandown as well, or if he goes very well at Cheltenham, maybe we will go back to Cheltenham again in March.

Afternoon Racing – Huntingdon Racecourse – Thursday January 2nd
Sixmilebridge ridden by Kielan Woods on their way to victory (Mike Egerton/PA).

“He’ll definitely stay three miles in time and once he goes over fences, I think he’ll be three miles. He’s a lovely horse – a little bit quirky and he just takes a bit of knowing, but he’s very good.”

Pauling, meanwhile, has big plans for Vanderpoel after he made a successful first start for the stable in the Advertise Your Business At Huntingdon Racecourse Maiden Hurdle.

Ben Jones sent the 3-1 chance to the front approaching the second last and secured a decisive advantage before fending off the late charge of favourite George’s Lad by a length.

The six-year-old was bought for £90,000 in late November after winning an Irish point-to-point by 10 lengths and that looks money well spent.

Afternoon Racing – Huntingdon Racecourse – Thursday January 2nd
Vanderpoel ridden by Ben Jones on their way to victory (Mike Egerton/PA).

Pauling said: “I was quite hopeful. We’d done a few pieces of work with him and what he’d done, he’d done beautifully.

“Chucking him in a hurdle at this stage of the season probably means that I think he’s good enough to go and run in some better races in the spring and he needed to come here and do that today.

“Ben said it was quite tacky, holding ground out there but he seemed to cope with it fine. He said it wouldn’t matter if it was two miles or three miles and he was very happy with his jumping, so hopefully we made the right decision and we can go forward now.

“From what I’ve seen so far at home, he just oozes class and I’m hoping he could be something for maybe Aintree.

“He might just be one of those that goes and wins a couple now and you’ll see him in a better race in the spring. He wouldn’t be ready for Cheltenham but coming here I hoped he would do what he’s done.”



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Djelo demolishes Peterborough Chase rivals

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.”



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Minella Drama booked for Peterborough performance

Minella Drama will bid for a second successive Grade Two success in the TrustATrader Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Sunday.

Donald McCain’s charge notched his first victory since February of last year when landing the Old Roan Chase at Aintree in late October, beating a strong field that included Ahoy Senor and Stage Star.

Minella Drama has not been seen in competitive action since due to a lack of suitable opportunities, but is poised for a trip to Cambridgeshire this weekend.

“He’s definitely an intended runner, there’s literally nowhere else we can go,” said McCain.

“To be honest, if the ground does deteriorate it doesn’t matter as he’ll go on good ground and he’ll go on heavy ground, it makes no odds.

“We’ve just been waiting for any opportunity to run him, we’re very happy with him, he’s in great nick and he’s ready to run.

“He doesn’t seem to like going south for some reason, but Huntingdon is not like Ascot and those sorts of places and it’s the only race for him.

“Touch wood we’ve had a really smooth run since Aintree, we just took our time and he’s in great order, so we’ll go and have a crack and see.”

Protektorat and Harry Skelton after winning the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham
Protektorat and Harry Skelton after winning the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham (David Davies/The Jockey Club)

Minella Drama is one of seven entries for the Peterborough Chase, with Dan Skelton’s Protektorat setting the standard on ratings.

Winner of the 2022 Betfair Chase and the Ryanair Chase last season, the nine-year-old can be expected to improve from his comeback sixth under the welter burden of 12st in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month.

Jamie Snowden could saddle the Paddy Power runner-up Ga Law, while the Paul Nicholls-trained Ginny’s Destiny has the opportunity to bounce back from being pulled up in the same race.

Djelo (Venetia Williams), Nickle Back (Sarah Humphrey) and Soul Icon (Keiran Burke) are the other contenders.



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Djelo pencilled in for Peterborough run

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.”



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Roving Reports: Chasing the Easter Money

It’s a busy time for bookmakers, is Easter, with a whole raft of meetings both Flat and Jumps to attend, although the early news on Saturday is not great, writes David Massey. Not only has Musselburgh bitten the dust after an early morning deluge, but for the Midlands bookmakers, the point-to-point at Sandon, near Stafford, has also been called off. That’s usually a really well-attended event, and will be a big miss for them. There will be no chance to see Eddie Redmayne, and his dogs, there this year. 

This matters not to us, as we’re off to Haydock for their family fun day. The weather looks mixed, to say the least, and it’s grey and damp as we set off. By the time we get there, however, the sun is trying to break through and things look brighter, literally. 

Other meetings being off means more bookmakers than there were last year at Haydock; four more, in fact, and this means betting on two lines rather than the one we were in last year. (The line takes 17 bookmakers.) When all the punters are in front of you, business is better; if you’re on the front line, you run the risk of a bookmaker betting behind you, and taking a share of your business. Such is the bookmaking life. 

We know what today will be like - all small money, lots of bets on “named” horses (it cannot be coincidence that one of the best backed horses all day with us is called Holly) and now the sun is fully out, we should have a decent day. 

Quiet to get going, as ever, and putting the forecast up for the four-runner first event is a waste of time. Nobody has a clue what it is, and nobody asks. I’d have been better putting the weather forecast up. It might have been more informative. 

As stated, the aforementioned Holly is an each-way disaster in the second race for us, and with the favourite, Brentford Hope, winning it’s a losing race. Secret Trix is much better in the next, but there’s a dinosaur show on for the kids, and business isn’t as strong. 

There are often dinosaurs in the betting ring - most of them will take your bets with a smile - but these two are bigger than the norm. One is a T-Rex and the other one isn’t. Some of the younger kids find it all a bit much. If you’ve bought “crying children” at 15 at the start of the day, go collect. 

Numitor is actually an okay result but Daly Tiger finishing third knocks a fair bit of the place money out. I go to get the coffees and offer up a loyalty card. Despite buying three drinks, it’s only stamped once. “One stamp per visit”, we are told. I shake my head. Come racing. 

Duke Of Deception is a good result but the enormous gamble on One Big Bang is joined in by a fair proportion of the crowd, and that’s not. Said crowd ebbs away pretty quickly after the sixth, with tired and emotional children in tow, carrying their dinosaur merchandise. Elleon wins the last, a good result, and it’s time to go home, although somehow I manage to join the wrong lane at the Haydock Island roundabout and end up taking a three-mile detour to get myself on the M6. 

Sunday sees me at Southwell, and in truth there’s little to say. Southwell are only allowing 100 public in, on top of owners, trainers and annual members, with the downstairs grandstand still out of operation. There’s only three bookmakers in the ring, and one on the rail, and whilst there’s enough business for the four, there’s only just enough. It’s families again, although with a cold, grey day, most are in the warmth upstairs, bar one family determined to stick it out on a couple of picnic tables. There’s an ice-cream van on the premises, but you wouldn’t want a share in it today. Results are irrelevant with the business - at least for four races - when suddenly a big punter appears, wanting a grand each-way Squeaker. He gets laid, and the business, rather than going back to the machine, is shared around the books. Squeaker looks beat at halfway but rattles home and is beaten under a length. He’s copped the each-way money for him, at least. He doesn’t bet the next but smashes into Brother Dave in the penultimate, and when that cops, it looks bleak. We get a bit back off him in the last but we’ve stood all day for very little. And it’s freezing. 

On to Huntingdon on Monday. This is more like it. My first McDonalds of any description for 41 days (not that I’m counting, you never do when you’re on a diet, do you?) is a Bacon Roll and Hash Brown as we make our way down the A14. God, I’d forgotten how good a bacon roll tastes. Everyone knows calories don’t count on Bank Holidays. Just for once, the Shredded Wheat can be passed over. 

After a rainy start, the sun really does come shining through - I contemplated sun cream at one point, no, honestly - and a good crowd are still piling in as the first goes off. If the money was small at Haydock, it’s positively minute here, with about 50% of the bets either £2 win or £1 e/w. Families having five or six bets, novices placing their first ever bets, mums taking advice from their kids, they’re all here today. Two families, from Cambridge, apparently remember my face from last year and have their knicker each-way bets with me all day. “You were very polite”, they tell me. That’s the game on these days - price is irrelevant, customer service everything. This is proven by the very first bet I take - £10 on Annie Day at 10-1 in the first race, when next door to me is 11s. Smile, be nice, have a joke. It works. 

However, I’ve got a problem. Two, to be precise. Because the firm have no fewer then seven pitches running between Huntingdon and the other half of the crew at Fakenham, it means that bits of kit that wouldn’t normally be used are wheeled out today. The laptop I’m using was the very one that Noah used to count the animals onto the Ark two-by-two with. The light board is old too, and for some reason, the bottom half of it isn’t working, which is far from ideal. The laptop crashes, at various inconvenient points throughout the afternoon, no fewer than eight times, and each time I have to restart everything. At the end of the day, I reckon that’s probably cost me a monkey’s worth of business. The temptation to launch the damned thing into the bin at close of play is great, but it’s not my equipment...

This is doubly frustrating with results as good as they are: not a winning favourite in sight until the last two races, by which time business has notably dropped off anyway, with many families off home after the sixth. We’ve won and won well on the day, and although the urge to double-dip at Maccy D’s on the way home is great, I resist. Just. 

And so finally, to Pontefract. I’m not working, just a day out. It normally takes me an hour and 10 minutes from my house to get to the track, so I leave in good time. Or so I thought. 

I drive into the track as they are going into the stalls for the first. The M1 was bad, the A1 worse, and finally Pontefract town centre itself appeared to be at a standstill. The nearer I got to the track, the further away I got, time wise, according to Google Maps. That’s never a good thing. So as you can imagine, I’ve fallen out with myself before I’m even parked up, and when the only parking space left appears to be in the middle of a lake of a puddle, the appeal of turning the car around and going home is strong. 

But I'm glad I didn’t, as it was quite an enjoyable day overall, bumping into a few old friends, backing a winner, then giving most of it back, and probably seeing a future winner in Vallamorey. However, if anyone wants to pop round and clean my car in readiness for Aintree next week (when it’ll DEFINITELY get dirty again) then don’t let me stop you...

- DM



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Waterlogging claims Huntingdon card

Thursday’s meeting at Huntingdon has been called off due to a waterlogged track.

The venue was due to host a six-race National Hunt card but the course is not fit for action, with areas of standing water and further rain forecast ahead of the fixture.

Clerk of the course Roderick Duncan inspected the track on Tuesday morning and had little option but to abandon.

He said: “We flooded again on Sunday and while the water levels have dropped, there are still areas of standing water on various parts of the track.

“While the river levels are dropping, the forecast for more rain on Wednesday and Thursday is just not helpful.”

The British Horseracing Authority has already announced an additional meeting on Thursday at Chelmsford.



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Dunskay heading for Aintree after Huntingdon win

Dunskay booked his ticket to Aintree in the spring when capping off a fine afternoon for Ben Pauling at Huntingdon in the manner of a smart operator.

Pauling had earlier won the feature M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle with Handstands and was doing somersaults after seeing Dunskay bounce back to his very best in the concluding PHP Architects Open National Hunt Flat Race.

A taking winner at Exeter on debut, he was disappointing in Listed action at Ascot prior to Christmas, but carried a penalty to a comfortable success at odds of 4-1 in the hands of Harry Cobden to tee-up another step up in class at the Grand National meeting in April.

“It’s been a good day and this is a lovely horse,” said Pauling.

“He trach washed dirty after Ascot and I was fairly easy on him between there and now, so I thought he might need today. He’s done it nicely, so I’m really pleased.

“He’s a very nice, straightforward, big, gorgeous horse – a big, powerful horse. He’s going to be one for the future again, but he’s a lovely horse and I was delighted with that. Winning under a penalty is never easy, so I’m pleased.

“He will go to Aintree for the Grade Two next. We have some nice novices and bumper horses and it’s going the right way – we’re building a nice team of young horses, which is what it is about.”

Gavin Sheehan’s fine season continued with a double at the Cambridgeshire track.

He got the day off to a brilliant start aboard Christian Williams’ Fortunefavorsdbold (16-1) in the Newlands Developments Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase, before following up on Katy Price’s 6-4 favourite King Of Brazil in the Winvic Construction Handicap Chase.

Fortunefavorsdbold ridden by Gavin Sheehan (left) on their way to winning the Newlands Developments Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase
Fortunefavorsdbold ridden by Gavin Sheehan (left) on their way to winning the Newlands Developments Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Chase (David Davies/PA)

Another jockey hitting the headlines was 10lb conditional Lewis Saunders, who made the early mornings on the gallops at Olly Murphy’s Warren Chase base worthwhile when earning the praise of his boss after putting his claim to good use aboard Barricane.

It was just the second winner of the 20-year-old’s career and, having won aboard the nine-year-old at Uttoxeter in December, he showed his talent in the saddle to drive the 4-1 shot home to a three-length victory in the Urban Logistics Reit Handicap Hurdle.

“He’s a good little rider who came to me from Oliver Sherwood,” said Murphy.

“A lot of things went through my mind there. I was giving him a telling off for being left at the start, he was then getting a telling off for not pulling him up and then I thought, you know what, you have done the right thing and this is going to be the ride of the season.

Barricane (right) winning the Urban Logistics Reit Handicap Hurdle
Barricane (right) winning the Urban Logistics Reit Handicap Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

“Well done to the young lad. He’s ridden his first two winners on Barricane and is good value for his claim and works hard.

“I’ll give young lads chances if they work hard and muck in. I make them work hard and they ride early lots – all my conditionals are in at 6.30am riding an early one – but I do it for the right reasons.

“You have to work hard for what you get in life – and if they work hard and have ability to go with it, I will look after them.”

Harry Derham’s gamble to run Nordic Tiger (11-10 favourite) quickly after his wide-margin win at Wincanton last week paid dividends when the game five-year-old held on by a neck in the Mulberry Developments Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Nordic Tiger winning the Mulberry Developments Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
Nordic Tiger winning the Mulberry Developments Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (David Davies/PA)

“I was so nervous about running him because it was only seven days after his last race and it is not normally my style at all,” explained Derham.

“But he’s about to go up 10lb, which is a fair old hike, so we said we would try our luck and Alice (Stevens, jockey) takes off 5lb, which is very helpful – and he’s just a lovely, genuine horse.

“When it was raining all morning driving up here, I thought it was his chance gone, but he really knuckled down well.

“He’s going to be 10lb higher now and life will get tough, but when you have an attitude like him and you jump and try like him, then he will always have a decent chance and he is a horse who will probably win a few more races next season.”

Hermes Le Gris lands a blow for Robbie Llewellyn at Huntingdon
Hermes Le Gris lands a blow for Robbie Llewellyn at Huntingdon (David Davies/PA)

Meanwhile, you may have seen Hermes Le Gris (2-1 favourite) on your television in adverts in the past, but he put his name in lights when gaining compensation for a fall when leading at Southwell last week by claiming the Oxenwood Real Estate Handicap Hurdle for Robbie Llewellyn.

“He’s been in a Coral advert, so he’s had a few spins round Newbury,” said the trainer.

“After last week, where we thought he would have won and it was disappointing for him to fall, to come back six days later and produce a performance like that shows he obviously has a bit more left in the tank.

“You never quite know when you run them that quick if they will bounce, but I’m delighted.”



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Handstands impresses once more in Sidney Banks

Handstands appears to have earned himself a place on Ben Pauling’s Cheltenham Festival squad after maintaining his unbeaten record in the M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices’ Hurdle at Huntingdon.

Bought for £135,000 after winning his only start in the point-to-point field in October, the five-year-old made an immediate impact under rules at Hereford two months later before following up under a penalty at Newcastle early in the new year.

Pauling’s charge faced a step up in class for his hat-trick bid, with Nicky Henderson’s Grade One winner Jango Baie among his rivals, but he proved more than up to the task under Harry Cobden.

Bugise Seagull took the four-strong field along for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey before 9-4 shot Handstands took over before the home turn, at which stage Jango Baie was being niggled along by James Bowen and was briefly caught in behind the other two runners.

The 5-4 favourite, winner of the inaugural Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, stuck to his guns in the straight and was not far behind Handstands at the final flight, but the latter never looked in any serious danger of being caught and had a length and a half in hand at the line.

“He’s so raw and looking at him walking around the paddock there against a couple of those he looked a shell,” said Pauling.

“He looks a horse for next year, but there is just no bottom to him and he has just lobbed round there as easy as you like and when Harry wanted him he’s come alive really – he didn’t pick up the bridle for the first two miles and it’s really pleasing.

“I don’t think he is short of speed either and I’m very pleased. I don’t think he has had to try too hard again there and I couldn’t be happier. He was a bit careful at the second but other than that he has jumped brilliantly and it was a brilliant ride from Harry.”

Coral cut Handstands to 16-1 from 33-1 for the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at next month’s Cheltenham Festival, while Paddy Power offer 10-1 from 20-1 in their non-runner money back market.

Handstands and Harry Cobden on their way to victory (
Handstands and Harry Cobden on their way to victory (David Davies/PA)

Pauling added: “It’s job done today and then we will see what we do next. He’s an exciting horse for the future and we might look at the Baring Bingham.

“I think we will probably go (to Cheltenham), why not? He doesn’t have to do an awful lot does he and that won’t have taken too much out of him. He’s won on good ground and he’s won on heavy ground – it doesn’t really matter to him.

“There’s not much to separate him and Tellherthename (runs in Saturday’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury). I still think Tellherthename is probably a bit better, but that isn’t to say this lad is not class in his own right.

“They are different horses – Tellherthename travels that bit sweeter, whereas this lad goes to sleep then comes alive afterwards.”

Henderson was far from disappointed with the performance of the runner-up Jango Baie, who was conceding 5lb to Handstands.

Nicky Henderson was pleased with Jango Baie's performance in defeat
Nicky Henderson was pleased with Jango Baie’s performance in defeat (John Walton/PA)

“James said it was a bit of a stop-start sprint,” said the Seven Barrows handler.

“I’m sure he got the trip all right and he stayed on well. He got messed around a bit (in running) but I’m not making excuses. We were giving them 5lb and well done to the winner. I think they are two smart horses, it is always a decent race and I think it was.

“He probably wants all of this trip. He’s finished both of his races very strongly – he certainly did at Aintree when he stayed it out very well and finished very strong.”

On whether Jango Baie could run at Cheltenham, he added: “These are young horses and we’ve got to see who is coping with what.

“Aintree (over two and a half) would look the obvious place for him, but we will see. I will talk to the owner.”



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Sean Bowen sets sights on title charge after injury comeback

Title-chasing rider Sean Bowen was delighted to return to the saddle at Huntingdon on Thursday, despite being narrowly denied a dream comeback aboard Roccovango.

The 26-year-old has been leading the race to be crowned this season’s champion jockey for several months, but has been sidelined by an injury since suffering a nasty fall from from Gordon Elliott’s Farren Glory in the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day.

During the intervening period, Harry Cobden has significantly eroded Bowen’s advantage, with only four winners splitting the top two prior to Thursday’s action.

Bowen headed to Huntingdon for a solitary ride for his boss Olly Murphy, with Roccovango a 3-1 shot for the Mulberry Developments Novices’ Handicap Hurdle.

Roccovango and Sean Bowen in action
Roccovango and Sean Bowen in action (David Davies/PA)

Despite being hard at work some way from home, Roccovango responded to his rider’s urgings to ensure he was still in the fight jumping the final flight, but in the end he had to make do with the runner-up spot, going down by a neck to 11-10 favourite Nordic Tiger.

“It’s nice to be back and the horse ran well. We didn’t quite get there in the end, but it was a nice one to get me back started on,” Bowen said.

“To be fair he absolutely winged the last and showed a good attitude, but he just couldn’t get me the fairy tale comeback.

“All felt in good working order and I’m good to go.”

When asked if it has been tough watching Cobden eat into his lead since the turn of the year, the jockey added: “You can’t get frustrated by it because when I was off, unless Harry was doing something seriously wrong, he was going to ride a lot of winners in that time.

Sean Bowen is interviewed by the press at Huntingdon
Sean Bowen is interviewed by the press at Huntingdon (David Davies/PA)

“It was inevitable what was going to happen and I just need to come back and ride plenty of winners.”

Weather permitting, Bowen’s next port of call is Kempton on Friday before he heads to Newbury to partner the Murphy-trained Go Dante in the Betfair Hurdle.

The latter has been saved for this lucrative prize since winning at Cheltenham in mid-December and his rider is looking forward to being reunited with the eight-year-old this weekend.

“I’ll have a couple of warm-up rides and he’s the exciting one for the weekend,” said Bowen.

“I saw him the other day and he seems in really good form, so he’s one you’ve got to be looking forward to.”



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