Ones to keep an eye on

barjon

barjon

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Here’s an interesting Godolphin horse which cost $490,000 as a yearling, but remained unraced until this year when he was 4 years old and had lost his manhood on the way. Apparently well thought of it will be interesting to see where he goes from here, particularly after Frankie gave him such an “educational” first race.

WIRRAWAY

* Age: 4 (Foaled February 3rd, 2016)
* Sex: Chestnut Gelding
* Breeding: Australia - Fly Past (Zamindar (USA))
* Trainer: J H M Gosden
* Owner: Godolphin

Newmarket 11-Jul-20 1609m SOFT R3 Cl4nv
1st Stunning Beauty (O Murphy)
2nd Declaring Love (W Buick)
3rd Piranesi (C Fallon)
UPL Wirraway (L Dettori)

A very considered run given by Frankie Dettori - in rear group, moved through gradually from 4 to 2 furlongs out to about 5th or sixth then “challenged” to no great effect when treated gently and allowed to coast in. Drifted out to 14/1 having been 4/1 early price, although opened 13/2 on the day. Apparently he is well regarded, but this didn’t tell us anything.
 
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MONBEG LEGEND

Age10 (Foaled 9th March 2010)
TrainerN J Henderson
SexGelding
SireMidnight Legend
DamReverse Swing
OwnerEventmasters Racing

He was a Class 1 chaser two seasons ago with last season a write-off after falling in his first race and being pulled up in his second and last race. Nicky Henderson seems to have persevered with him so maybe looking to get him back. It might be just a sentimental journey, though, because he is 10 years old after all.

Whatever the motives he ran in a 2m7f Class 3 handicap hurdle at Market Rasen on 27/7 . He raced in the lead and hurdled well until 3 furlongs out when he tired and weakened rapidly to finish a long, long way back (84 lengths) in 9th. He was treated tenderly by Nico de Boinville and eased. If he has come out of it ok it was a decent enough re-introduction.
 
NEVERBEEN TO PARIS

Market Rasen 16 August 2020
Betway Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)
2m5½f, Class 4, £3,963.78
Going: Good
1. Neverbeen To Paris 6/1
4. Cage Of Fear 5/2F
3. Classic Escape 3/1
7 ran Distances: 6½l, 14l, ½l Total SP: 114%
Winning jockey: Gavin Sheehan
Winning trainer: Harry Whittington

Neverbeen To Paris, a competent RPR 126 hurdler, took on novice handicap company carrying top weight after just one previous novice chase. Jumping was passable and he showed a hurdler’s turn of foot when it mattered. Didn’t have much to beat as it turned out, but he’s only 5 and it will interesting to watch how he develops from here.
 
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Encourage could be one to look at next time out. Made his debut in a Newbury maiden (7f soft) and jumped reasonably enough. He initially followed the far side group but after 2f moved across to the nearside. Probably the wrong decision and when the pressure was exerted took his time to understand what was needed. Ran on well in the last half-furlong. Wasn't given a hard race and will learn a lot from that.
 
PIANISSIMO

Uttoxeter 17 August 2020
attheraces.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)
2m, Class 4, £3,508.92
Going: Good To Soft

There was some interest for this newcomer who had some fairly useful staying form on the flat reaching 98 RPR. He raced prominently in the leading group and in a breakaway threesome round the final turn. Closing up to challenge he made a Horlicks of the third last and lost all momentum, although still in third at the next where he was clumsy and lost further momentum (such as it was) and going on to treat the last with great respect. Not a strong novice race, of course, but I thought that he did show some promise for the future.
 
barjon said:
MONBEG LEGEND

Age10 (Foaled 9th March 2010)
TrainerN J Henderson
SexGelding
SireMidnight Legend
DamReverse Swing
OwnerEventmasters Racing

He was a Class 1 chaser two seasons ago with last season a write-off after falling in his first race and being pulled up in his second and last race. Nicky Henderson seems to have persevered with him so maybe looking to get him back. It might be just a sentimental journey, though, because he is 10 years old after all.

Whatever the motives he ran in a 2m7f Class 3 handicap hurdle at Market Rasen on 27/7 . He raced in the lead and hurdled well until 3 furlongs out when he tired and weakened rapidly to finish a long, long way back (84 lengths) in 9th. He was treated tenderly by Nico de Boinville and eased. If he has come out of it ok it was a decent enough re-introduction.
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21/8 chase this time. Tailed off and pulled up before 7th. I reckon that’s the last we will see of him.
 
barjon said:
21/8 chase this time. Tailed off and pulled up before 7th. I reckon that’s the last we will see of him.
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Yup. I backed him today in the hope NJH would get him back like he’s done with many others but think he’s gone at the game after that no show


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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Some hard luck stories in the Sandown 2.40. Escape The City was picked by the ITV team, having to be switched and finishing strongly for third but I'm more interested in Maronnier who finished 7th., Stuart Williams' gelding missed the break but steadily made ground up the straight but the field bunched and the apprentice had nowhere to go only two lengths behind in a bunch finish. I don't think ITV showed a head-on replay, which is a shame. Off the same mark and not giving the field start this 4-y-o has the ability to win in this grade.
 
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CHANTRY HOUSE

Nicky Henderson has been extremely patient with him. After one winning bumper run as a four year old he was pitched into a class 3 at Cheltenham to win at odds-on his only race as a five year old. He had one race at Newbury, again Class 3, before the Supreme which was on good ground and won with maybe his most commanding performance.

Henderson didn’t want to run him in the Supreme, he favoured the Ballymore , primarily to keep him away from Shiskin although he said there was little between them at home. If he’s right about that then the distance between them in the race, some 11 lengths, might be laid at the door of the soft ground which not the best for Chantry House.

Nonetheless, in coming third he took some notable scalps and did extremely well considering his very limited experience and he earned his highest rating. He has not run again since.

As a McManus horse he does not come under the same pressure to find winning opportunities and he may be destined for a role as good runner up in the top races. I think, however, that he is a horse yet to come to the boil and it will be interesting to see where he is placed, particularly when the going is good. He might even be sent chasing, although I’ve heard no mention of it as yet.
 
Chasing is definitely the plan Jon. Most are assuming he’ll head to the Marsh, but looking at Henderson’s novice chasers for next season I have a feeling he’ll end up in the RSA.
 
Maruco said:
Chasing is definitely the plan Jon. Most are assuming he’ll head to the Marsh, but looking at Henderson’s novice chasers for next season I have a feeling he’ll end up in the RSA.
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Oh, thanks Maruco, that’s even better. Definitely one to keep an eye on then.
 
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ENVOL DE LA COUR

Here’s a six year old hurdler whose four runs last season read PP8/9U - all Class 4 hurdles. With a record like that it is significant that he was backed down to 6/4 fav in the last one where he unseated his rider.

In his first race since - today, 3 September at Southwell - he started at 5/1 third favourite, once again shorter than you would expect albeit not so heavily as last time . Connections must think something of him at his current handicap rating. Didn’t run too badly, either, but ran out of puff before the last to finish 4th.
 
Marronnier who caught my eye when unlucky in running in a competitive Saturday Sandown handicap reappears at Ascot 4.15 this afternoon. Today's race is a Class 3 (0-90) Classified Stakes over a mile (same trip as Sandown), ground doesn't seem to matter to him, he is available at 3/1 at the moment. I am not convinced that this is the day but thought I'd flag it up.
 
barjon said:
ENVOL DE LA COUR

Here’s a six year old hurdler whose four runs last season read PP8/9U - all Class 4 hurdles. With a record like that it is significant that he was backed down to 6/4 fav in the last one where he unseated his rider.

In his first race since - today, 3 September at Southwell - he started at 5/1 third favourite, once again shorter than you would expect albeit not so heavily as last time . Connections must think something of him at his current handicap rating. Didn’t run too badly, either, but ran out of puff before the last to finish 4th.
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Before yesterdays race.....Envol De La Cour
Thu 3rd Sep 2020
19:30, Southwell

Was set to run a big race at Wetherby over fences back in March when unseating Brendan Powell. Back over hurdles today to give him a confidence booster and has done well during his 6 months off. Step up in trip a slight unknown but we feel it will be fine around here and on this better ground. The horses seem to be running well at the moment too so looking forward to getting going again with this one and should run well.
 
luckyme said:
Before yesterdays race.....Envol De La Cour
Thu 3rd Sep 2020
19:30, Southwell

Was set to run a big race at Wetherby over fences back in March when unseating Brendan Powell. Back over hurdles today to give him a confidence booster and has done well during his 6 months off. Step up in trip a slight unknown but we feel it will be fine around here and on this better ground. The horses seem to be running well at the moment too so looking forward to getting going again with this one and should run well.
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Thanks, lucky. I must also correct his record - they weren’t all hurdles but chase, chase, hurdle, chase. Sorry to have misled. Looks as though he might be worth looking at in his next chase then. Nothing pencilled in yet.
 
Marronnier finished fourth. Pace seemed a bit pedestrian and he was outpaced approaching the final furlong then running on inside the final furlong. Has to be given another chance.
 
barjon said:
21/8 chase this time. Tailed off and pulled up before 7th. I reckon that’s the last we will see of him.
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They gave Monbeg Legend another try at Stratford today. Always contesting last place he lasted 5 fences before tailing off and being pulled up. The well looks stone dry to me.
 
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Today's York winner Starman looks a serious type and I'm genuinely talking through my pocket. He's cost me a packet today.

I had BOGs on three horses today, Mamba Wamba 6/4, Dakota Gold 3/1 and Bulls Aye 11/1.

The DG single would have paid 3/1, the double with MW 9/1 and the treble with BA 119/1, for a total of 131 times my stake. Unfortunately I decided against backing the other two singles as I wanted to limit the outgoings. I thought MW and the in-form DG were good things and the latter was a long way clear of the third so Starman must be pretty good. Bulls Aye was pretty much an experimental bet based on something I'm working on at the moment but the treble was just in case fortune smiled on me. Bastert spat in my face.

It goes on, Judah.
 
York Sunday 2.30 7f. Restricted Sire/Dam 2-y-o Novice.

I was interested in the favourite in this race, the very well bred Athers who had run third on debut at Doncaster. Sent off 10/11 he looked to be travelling nicely on the outside of the field up the centre of the course but then it all went wrong, seemed to falter on what looked to be loose ground and dropped out to finish a long way last.

Having another look at the race today I was taken by the run of Tim Easterby's KENTUCKY KITTEN. Seemingly unfancied at 33/1 he missed the break and trailed the field until making headway two out and running on well to the line, finishing 4th, beaten less than three lengths. He is by first season sire Bobby's Kitten out of a Galileo mare, Galistic, who has already produced a black-type 7f. winner.

Looks certain to win a race, possibly over a bit further. Just have to make sure you are on it when it does.
 
Colin Phillips said:
York Sunday 2.30 7f. Restricted Sire/Dam 2-y-o Novice.

I was interested in the favourite in this race, the very well bred Athers who had run third on debut at Doncaster. Sent off 10/11 he looked to be travelling nicely on the outside of the field up the centre of the course but then it all went wrong, seemed to falter on what looked to be loose ground and dropped out to finish a long way last.

Having another look at the race today I was taken by the run of Tim Easterby's KENTUCKY KITTEN. Seemingly unfancied at 33/1 he missed the break and trailed the field until making headway two out and running on well to the line, finishing 4th, beaten less than three lengths. He is by first season sire Bobby's Kitten out of a Galileo mare, Galistic, who has already produced a black-type 7f. winner.

Looks certain to win a race, possibly over a bit further. Just have to make sure you are on it when it does.
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Runs tomorrow 1:40 Ayr
 
Colin Phillips said:
Marronnier finished fourth. Pace seemed a bit pedestrian and he was outpaced approaching the final furlong then running on inside the final furlong. Has to be given another chance.
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Runs tomorrow 4:45 Newmarket early price 15/2

Well supported 2nd 4/1
 
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barjon said:
PIANISSIMO

Uttoxeter 17 August 2020
attheraces.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)
2m, Class 4, £3,508.92
Going: Good To Soft

There was some interest for this newcomer who had some fairly useful staying form on the flat reaching 98 RPR. He raced prominently in the leading group and in a breakaway threesome round the final turn. Closing up to challenge he made a Horlicks of the third last and lost all momentum, although still in third at the next where he was clumsy and lost further momentum (such as it was) and going on to treat the last with great respect. Not a strong novice race, of course, but I thought that he did show some promise for the future.
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3rd @ 25/1 - ran a good race and even looked as if e was going to challenge coming into the last, but the first two turned up the gas and left him for dead.
 
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