Bachelors Hall
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- Apr 24, 2012
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About that time again.
Harly Forest - Trainer Brian Ellison has won this race twice with three runners. However, both winners (Come On Sunshine and Dilizan) went off as favourites and the beaten representative went off at 18/1 and ran accordingly. Harly Forest has been beaten a whopping 212 lengths in four starts (including in blinkers) and would the hurdes would need to inspire a profound reinvention.
Jazzy - Has been steadily improving throughout his career and has the highest official rating from the flat. He also has two wins to his name - a four runner maiden at Kempton (which hasn't worked out at all well) and a handicap at the same track over a mile (which produced a trio of minor winners down the field). After being allowed 77 days to recuperate after getting the snip, he returned to Kempton where he was too keen for his own good and had nothing left at the business end. However, he bettered that effort next time at Chepstow when, after going to post early, he finished third in a Chepstow mile handicap posting perhaps his best effort to date. In terms of pure class, he has a favourite's chance but he is not without concerns. While he isn't an utter rogue by any means, he can take a pull and even when running doggedly in the main when performing at Kempton and Chepstow, there were fleeting moments of whatabouterry. A greater concern would be his uncertain stamina. While he did win over a mile and a half, it was a sedate four runner affair and Jazzy's better efforts have been over a mile. While it would be harsh to sully Roderic O'Connor's reputation as a producer of stayers (given Jazzy will be his father's curtain raiser), one remembers that beyond a mile, ROC was below his best. It may also be worth considering that Jazzy will be Martin Keighley's first Juvenile runner since Anabaa's Secret pulled up in a seller back in 2009.
Lets Do This Thing - Jamie Snowden makes his first visit to Hexham as a trainer just as his charge makes his first trip to a racecourse. An exciting day for both. Costing €25,000 as a foal, he is out of a half sister to Melbourne Cup runner up Give The Slip and Corso Palladio who won over three miles at Aintree. His sire, Thewayyouare, is rather untested thus far but has produced a Queens Vase runner up and a filly who finished second at 40.1 in a Limerick Juvenile last term (albeit tiring at the end). Not much can be gleamed about the chances of an unraced animal although thankfully in the age of the internet, there is a video of him schooling. <<<HERE!>>>. The first two jumps are crap but the other four aren't too shoddy. Much like in this video, Jamie Snowden's better juveniles tend to improve with experience - even if it's a long way to travel with just the one runner.
Linger - Had three runs as a two year old for Mark Johnson before being snapped up by Shark Hanlon for £1,800 in the January Sales. Sent off at 8/1 on his debut in an October Beverley maiden before finishing towards the rear, he beat only one home on his next start at York. His final start at Lingfield was a little more promising where, though a ten length fourth, he finished on the tail of subsequent maiden winner Tetradrachm. The official rating of 65 seems fair and his sire is more than capable of producing Juveniles (including Leoncavallo last term). Furthermore, his astute trainer's juvenile raiders fill the frame more often than not regardless of form or cost.
Rajapour - The only grey in the field, this ex-inmate of Dermot Weld was given an initial rating of 76 after a finishing within squinting distance of Air Vice Marshal, Turret Rocks, True Solitaire and Shogun in a trio of maidens. However, after proving flattered by such an exalted rating in a pair of handicaps, he was offloaded for 11,000 Guineas in October. His initial displays in the UK were three tepid efforts at Wolverhampton where he beat only 2 of 24 rivals and was nearly 18 lengths behind Skylark Lady (herself beaten after a nightmare run). There was a respite at Nottingham when third in a soft ground handicap off 55 in first time cheek pieces. Nevertheless, he would still have three lengths and three pounds to find with Stone Quercus and his finishing midfield at Redcar last time suggests the rating of 52 is about his level.
Stone Quercus - Was a consistent if unremarkable two year old running respectably in maidens at Nottingham, Chelmsford and Redcar for James Given. After being gelded over the festive period, he carried on in much the same vein on the sand. While he no-showed after taking a keen hold at Redcar in a mile handicap on his penultimate, either side of that flop came reasonable efforts over ten furlongs. He finished second behind well handicapped type at Nottingham where, after setting a strong gallop and looking like fading, he plugged on in an admirable fashion. Last time at Ripon, he ran respectably in a poor enough seller and once again, looked more than a handful. Nevertheless, Donald McCain saw enough to think he was worth £6,000 at least. While the trainer hasn't been having a brilliant time of things, he knows how to train a Juvenile. Still, it's difficult to forget that he's had two well-fancied runners in this race over the past two years and both have performed abysmally.
Bobby's Babe - Another with three runs last year and none this year although the trainer has seen fit to keep this one. Making her debut at Thirsk in September, she was a respectable fourth in a maiden where the front five all won since and three are currently rated 95. While the second run saw her finish runner up, it wasn't in quite as auspicious a race. The third and fourth have each won since, one of those came in a claimer (albeit an 18 runner one). Her final start was a race to call her own at Ripon when she made all six furlongs to beat the 79 rated Kyllukey and the 102 rated scrutineer. This form and that of her debut would be the strongest in this field and provided she hasn't regressed, the official rating of 72 looks highly exploitable. Given she shaped as a miler and that her siblings are largely sprinters, it is rather bemusing that she makes her 2016 reappearance at Hexham. Notwithstanding, her sire Big Bad Bob does get reasonable Juveniles and there is sufficient stamina on her dam's side. Furthermore, Tim Easterby is a man worthy of respect in this kind of contest.
Josephine K - trainer Susan Corbett enjoyed a winner at the last meeting. However, Josephine K was beaten 61 lengths on her sole start last term.
Little Lotte - If the owner's website is to believed, we are about to see a horse "set to become of the leading juvenile hurdlers in 2016/7 NH season". In fairness, she's bred to be competitive in this particular contest as her full sister, Dance For Livvy, won the 2011 renewal, half sister Hi Candy was third in 2013 and another half sister, Dance For Julie, won on her Juvenile debut at Market Rasen. What's more, there were two runs last season in French claimers which weren't entirely abhorrent. However, her two starts this season kinda were - but they were just pipe openers really. Recent form is an obvious concern and probably lacks the overall class to make a winning bid but a fair run wouldn't be a huge shock.
Skylark Lady - The field is completed by the third winner set to line up, one whose entire career has taken place on the all weather. A consistant filly, she tends to run within half a stone of herself each start and as mentioned earlier, has the measure of Rajapur. With her consistency comes exposure, a rating in the mid-low sixties and a price tag of 3,200 guineas.
Arbitrary 1-2-3* (By arbirtary I mean arbitrary. The selections made have had literally zero thought put into them and are for entertainment purposes only never to be construed as legitimate financial advice)
1. Bobby's Babe
2. Jazzy
3. Linger
Harly Forest 3/2 Sadlers Wings 4th Champion Hurdle (G1), Leopardstown 2006
Rajapur 3/1 Atamane 2nd Grand Prix d’Automne (G1), Auteuil 2008
Linger 3/2 Fnan 4th Champion Stayers Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 2003
Bobby's Babe 3/2 Handazan 1st 4YO Handicap Hurdle (126) Chepstow 2013
Skylark Lady 4/2 Salamah 3rd Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle (G2), Ascot 1998
Stone Quercus 4/1 Arcane 1st 4-5yo Hurdle, Thurles 1992
Lets Do This Thing 2/1 Corso Palladio 1st Handicap Hurdle (107), Aintree 2010
Little Lotte .5 Dance For Julie 3rd Mares’ Hurdle (Listed), Wetherby 2011
Jazzy 3/1 Arden 1st Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle (Listed), Ascot 1989
Josephine K 3/0 Swiss Beauty 2nd Novices’ Hurdle, Carlisle 1994
Sires
Linger - Cape Cross (12) 37% (winners/runners with jumpers in UK and Ireland)
Stone Quercus - Rock Of Gibraltar (6) 34%
Rajapur - Dalakhani (5) 36%
Bobby's Babe - Big Bad Bob (3) 24%
Little Lotte - Kodiac (2) 50%
Josephine K - Bahri 39%
Harly Forest - Holy Roman Emperor 28%
Skylark Lady - Tamayuz 15%
Lets Do This Thing - Thewayyouare 0% 7 runners
Jazzy - Roderic O’Connor 0% 0 runners
Harly Forest - Trainer Brian Ellison has won this race twice with three runners. However, both winners (Come On Sunshine and Dilizan) went off as favourites and the beaten representative went off at 18/1 and ran accordingly. Harly Forest has been beaten a whopping 212 lengths in four starts (including in blinkers) and would the hurdes would need to inspire a profound reinvention.
Jazzy - Has been steadily improving throughout his career and has the highest official rating from the flat. He also has two wins to his name - a four runner maiden at Kempton (which hasn't worked out at all well) and a handicap at the same track over a mile (which produced a trio of minor winners down the field). After being allowed 77 days to recuperate after getting the snip, he returned to Kempton where he was too keen for his own good and had nothing left at the business end. However, he bettered that effort next time at Chepstow when, after going to post early, he finished third in a Chepstow mile handicap posting perhaps his best effort to date. In terms of pure class, he has a favourite's chance but he is not without concerns. While he isn't an utter rogue by any means, he can take a pull and even when running doggedly in the main when performing at Kempton and Chepstow, there were fleeting moments of whatabouterry. A greater concern would be his uncertain stamina. While he did win over a mile and a half, it was a sedate four runner affair and Jazzy's better efforts have been over a mile. While it would be harsh to sully Roderic O'Connor's reputation as a producer of stayers (given Jazzy will be his father's curtain raiser), one remembers that beyond a mile, ROC was below his best. It may also be worth considering that Jazzy will be Martin Keighley's first Juvenile runner since Anabaa's Secret pulled up in a seller back in 2009.
Lets Do This Thing - Jamie Snowden makes his first visit to Hexham as a trainer just as his charge makes his first trip to a racecourse. An exciting day for both. Costing €25,000 as a foal, he is out of a half sister to Melbourne Cup runner up Give The Slip and Corso Palladio who won over three miles at Aintree. His sire, Thewayyouare, is rather untested thus far but has produced a Queens Vase runner up and a filly who finished second at 40.1 in a Limerick Juvenile last term (albeit tiring at the end). Not much can be gleamed about the chances of an unraced animal although thankfully in the age of the internet, there is a video of him schooling. <<<HERE!>>>. The first two jumps are crap but the other four aren't too shoddy. Much like in this video, Jamie Snowden's better juveniles tend to improve with experience - even if it's a long way to travel with just the one runner.
Linger - Had three runs as a two year old for Mark Johnson before being snapped up by Shark Hanlon for £1,800 in the January Sales. Sent off at 8/1 on his debut in an October Beverley maiden before finishing towards the rear, he beat only one home on his next start at York. His final start at Lingfield was a little more promising where, though a ten length fourth, he finished on the tail of subsequent maiden winner Tetradrachm. The official rating of 65 seems fair and his sire is more than capable of producing Juveniles (including Leoncavallo last term). Furthermore, his astute trainer's juvenile raiders fill the frame more often than not regardless of form or cost.
Rajapour - The only grey in the field, this ex-inmate of Dermot Weld was given an initial rating of 76 after a finishing within squinting distance of Air Vice Marshal, Turret Rocks, True Solitaire and Shogun in a trio of maidens. However, after proving flattered by such an exalted rating in a pair of handicaps, he was offloaded for 11,000 Guineas in October. His initial displays in the UK were three tepid efforts at Wolverhampton where he beat only 2 of 24 rivals and was nearly 18 lengths behind Skylark Lady (herself beaten after a nightmare run). There was a respite at Nottingham when third in a soft ground handicap off 55 in first time cheek pieces. Nevertheless, he would still have three lengths and three pounds to find with Stone Quercus and his finishing midfield at Redcar last time suggests the rating of 52 is about his level.
Stone Quercus - Was a consistent if unremarkable two year old running respectably in maidens at Nottingham, Chelmsford and Redcar for James Given. After being gelded over the festive period, he carried on in much the same vein on the sand. While he no-showed after taking a keen hold at Redcar in a mile handicap on his penultimate, either side of that flop came reasonable efforts over ten furlongs. He finished second behind well handicapped type at Nottingham where, after setting a strong gallop and looking like fading, he plugged on in an admirable fashion. Last time at Ripon, he ran respectably in a poor enough seller and once again, looked more than a handful. Nevertheless, Donald McCain saw enough to think he was worth £6,000 at least. While the trainer hasn't been having a brilliant time of things, he knows how to train a Juvenile. Still, it's difficult to forget that he's had two well-fancied runners in this race over the past two years and both have performed abysmally.
Bobby's Babe - Another with three runs last year and none this year although the trainer has seen fit to keep this one. Making her debut at Thirsk in September, she was a respectable fourth in a maiden where the front five all won since and three are currently rated 95. While the second run saw her finish runner up, it wasn't in quite as auspicious a race. The third and fourth have each won since, one of those came in a claimer (albeit an 18 runner one). Her final start was a race to call her own at Ripon when she made all six furlongs to beat the 79 rated Kyllukey and the 102 rated scrutineer. This form and that of her debut would be the strongest in this field and provided she hasn't regressed, the official rating of 72 looks highly exploitable. Given she shaped as a miler and that her siblings are largely sprinters, it is rather bemusing that she makes her 2016 reappearance at Hexham. Notwithstanding, her sire Big Bad Bob does get reasonable Juveniles and there is sufficient stamina on her dam's side. Furthermore, Tim Easterby is a man worthy of respect in this kind of contest.
Josephine K - trainer Susan Corbett enjoyed a winner at the last meeting. However, Josephine K was beaten 61 lengths on her sole start last term.
Little Lotte - If the owner's website is to believed, we are about to see a horse "set to become of the leading juvenile hurdlers in 2016/7 NH season". In fairness, she's bred to be competitive in this particular contest as her full sister, Dance For Livvy, won the 2011 renewal, half sister Hi Candy was third in 2013 and another half sister, Dance For Julie, won on her Juvenile debut at Market Rasen. What's more, there were two runs last season in French claimers which weren't entirely abhorrent. However, her two starts this season kinda were - but they were just pipe openers really. Recent form is an obvious concern and probably lacks the overall class to make a winning bid but a fair run wouldn't be a huge shock.
Skylark Lady - The field is completed by the third winner set to line up, one whose entire career has taken place on the all weather. A consistant filly, she tends to run within half a stone of herself each start and as mentioned earlier, has the measure of Rajapur. With her consistency comes exposure, a rating in the mid-low sixties and a price tag of 3,200 guineas.
Arbitrary 1-2-3* (By arbirtary I mean arbitrary. The selections made have had literally zero thought put into them and are for entertainment purposes only never to be construed as legitimate financial advice)
1. Bobby's Babe
2. Jazzy
3. Linger
Harly Forest 3/2 Sadlers Wings 4th Champion Hurdle (G1), Leopardstown 2006
Rajapur 3/1 Atamane 2nd Grand Prix d’Automne (G1), Auteuil 2008
Linger 3/2 Fnan 4th Champion Stayers Hurdle (G1), Punchestown 2003
Bobby's Babe 3/2 Handazan 1st 4YO Handicap Hurdle (126) Chepstow 2013
Skylark Lady 4/2 Salamah 3rd Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle (G2), Ascot 1998
Stone Quercus 4/1 Arcane 1st 4-5yo Hurdle, Thurles 1992
Lets Do This Thing 2/1 Corso Palladio 1st Handicap Hurdle (107), Aintree 2010
Little Lotte .5 Dance For Julie 3rd Mares’ Hurdle (Listed), Wetherby 2011
Jazzy 3/1 Arden 1st Kennel Gate Novices’ Hurdle (Listed), Ascot 1989
Josephine K 3/0 Swiss Beauty 2nd Novices’ Hurdle, Carlisle 1994
Sires
Linger - Cape Cross (12) 37% (winners/runners with jumpers in UK and Ireland)
Stone Quercus - Rock Of Gibraltar (6) 34%
Rajapur - Dalakhani (5) 36%
Bobby's Babe - Big Bad Bob (3) 24%
Little Lotte - Kodiac (2) 50%
Josephine K - Bahri 39%
Harly Forest - Holy Roman Emperor 28%
Skylark Lady - Tamayuz 15%
Lets Do This Thing - Thewayyouare 0% 7 runners
Jazzy - Roderic O’Connor 0% 0 runners