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Theatre puts on super show.
Returning to action for the first time since suffering a stress fracture of his pelvis 11 months ago, the Nicky Henderson-trained Riverside Theatre immediately got back to winning ways in the Betfair Ascot Chase, winning the race he had won last year before being sidelined through injury.
The eight-year-old, part owned by actor Jimmy Nesbitt, ran beautifully throughout, and once the 13-8 favourite outjumped his rivals at the fith last to take the lead, he was never in any danger, Riverside Theatre eventually crossing the line three lengths in front of the gallant Medermit, who’s jockey Robert Thornton had done exceptionally well to maintain the partnership after Medermit made a complete mess of the eighth from home.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Kauto Stone, the half brother to Kauto Star, was far too keen today, and after pulling his way to the front, and leading the field on the start of the second circuit, he ran out of puff on the business end of the Grade One contest.
Speaking after the race, Nicky Henderson revealed:
“We schooled him over five fences last Thursday, and those were the first fences he had jumped since winning here last year.
“Barry was brave to go so early, but he looked straight enough today.
“I don’t think we’ll be looking at anything else than the Ryanair Chase now.”
Binocular turns out to be super-sub.
Nicky Henderson may have made a late decision to substitute Binocular for the withdrawn Grandouet in today's Bathwick Tyres Kingwell Hurdle at wincanton, but the 2010 Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winner followed up on his victory in Kempton's Christmas Hurdle with a very impressive and fluent win in today's Grade two contest in the West Country.
The Paul Nicholls-trained Celestial Halo made most of the running, but Tony McCoy was sitting in his slipstream after the third last, and when the sixteen time champion jockey asked the J P McManus-owned former champion hurdler to go about his business approaching the penultimate flight, the response was immediate, and with a fluent leap at the last, Binocular went on to score comfortably by 8 lengths from Celestial Halo, with Starluck back in third.
Adding today's performance to his win in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle on 26 December, Binocular looks back to his best, and all the bookmaking firms immediately cut him in odds to wrench this year's Champion Hurdle title back from current incumbent Hurricane Fly.
Ruby puts in shining performance at Gowran.
Leading from start to finish, Ruby Light secured back to back wins in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park this afternoon.
The Robbie Hennessy-trained seven-year-old simply outclassed his four rivals, although he did make a bad mistake when jumping through the top of the second last, but a fine leap at the last indicated his mistake may have been down to a lack of concentration, caused by being on his own for so long.
Andrew Lynch sent the 2-5 favourite straight into the lead, and he continued to extend his advantage, as Ruby Light popped his fences throughout most of today’s Grade Two contest.
Just keeping his mount up to his work on the run-in, Lynch and Ruby Light came home 16 lengths in front of runner-up Chicago Grey, the latter a Cheltenham Festival winner in his own right.
Speaking after the race, Robbie Hennessy commented:
“He was in front for a long time, and it was very much like a schooling session for him. He popped around, and did what he had to do, but I think he’d be a lot better with a bit of company. I was very impressed with him, and he certainly made the others look very ordinary.
“If we can get soft ground for the Ryanair, I think we’ll be laughing. So we’ll be praying for a bit of rain ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.”
Invictus boosts his RSA Chase claims.
With his yard in top form, it was perhaps not surprising the Alan King-trained Invictus put the two market leaders to the sword in today’s Grade Two Sodexo Reynoldstown Novices Chase at Ascot.
Race favourite Silviniaco Conti disputed the lead with Alfie Spinner for a long way in today’s contest, but when push came to shove, he was found wanting, and with second favourite Bob’s Worth apparently struggling at the third last, a confident Robert Thornton brought Invictus to take the lead approaching the second last, and with the 6-1 shot jumping fluently at the final obstacle, Thornton was able to push Invictus out for a 3 length victory over Bob’s Worth, the latter finding his second wind in the closing stages.
Apleased Alan King said after unsaddling the winner:
“That was a lot better today. He lost a shoe early on at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, and maybe that effected him on that occasion, as that was much more like him today, and he obviously liked the decent ground.
“He looked a real prospect when he won at Plumpton, but then Cheltenham was disappointing, but in hindsight, we had excuses for that, as I’m sure the lost shoe didn’t help.
“He’ll go on soft ground, but he appriciates better ground.
“After yesterday, Walkon is going to have to step up in trip, and I don’t think this fellow will appreciate being dropped back in trip, so they might both end up in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.”
With his charge having had a recent breathing operation, Nicky Henderson was happy with today’s runner-up Bob’s Worth, and revealed:
“ That was a fantastic run, especially if you’d seen what he looked like 3 weeks ago.”
Connections of Silviniaco Conti indicated after today’s contest that their charge will almost certainly skip Cheltenham in March in favour of a run at Aintree’s Grand National Meeting in April.
McCain secures Super win.
While Donald McCain’s horses have not been setting the world alight of late, his novice Super Duty showed plenty of courage to secure victory over 4-7 race favourite Keys in today’s Espirito Santo Investment Bank Novices Hurdle at Ascot.
Unbeaten prior to his heavy fall at ayr last time, Super Duty restored his previously perfect form figures with a front running performance from start to finish under Sam Thomas.
Keys had looked a major danger at the second last, but he failed to pick up in the closing stages, allowing Super Duty (7-1) to score by a length and three quarters at the line.
While David Pipe already has the ante-post favourite for the Aintree Grand National in the form of Junior, the yard’s Massini’s Maguire laid down his claims for the aintree marathon with a fine victory in today’s Weatherbys Bloodstock Insurance Chase at Ascot.
Chance du Roi set a fast pace on testing ground, but Pipe’s charge always had the leader in his sights, and the 9-1 shot eventually came home a head in front of Tullymore Dew.
Caviar made to work for win nineteen.
Australian wonder mare - Black Caviar – took her unbeaten run to nineteen straight career wins on Saturday, but she was made to work hard on this occasion by runner-up Hay List when winning the Lightning Stakes at Flemington, and as a consequence of her narrow length and a quarter triumph, connections have decided to make a change to their original plans.
Having won the C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday over 7 furlongs, Black caviar today reverted to a 5 furlong sprint distance, and while she prevailed in the end due to her outstanding ability, Trainer Peter Moody has had to reconsider his original plan to run his six-year-old in the 7 furlong Futurity Stakes at Caulfield next Saturday.
It now appears Black Caviar may not run again until a possible engagement at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai on World Cup Night in March, and this was supported by Moody’s comments after today’s race, with the trainer revealing:
“I would pretty much say she won’t run at Caulfield next week. It’s probably too tough for her to butter it up for three weeks in a row, and I’ve now got to sit down with the owners and decide what we do next.
“If she goes to Dubai, this will probably have been her last prep race in Australia.
“Lets face it, Hay List is a great horse, but it’s just unfortunate he’s in an era when there is a racing freak opposing him every time he runs. Black Caviar is a great horse, and she wasn’t going to be dictated too by rivals who are not as great as her, and I also have to say, Luke Nolan once again gave her a great ride.”
Forecast frost forces Market Rasen inspection.
With winter frost forecast to return over Lincolnshire tonight, officials at Market Rasen have called an 8.00 am precautionary inspection tomorrow morning ahead of Sunday afternoon’s scheduled national hunt card.
Discussing his decision to call an inspection, Clerk of the Course Robert Bellamy said:
“It’s purely precautionary, but I’d look stupid if the weather turns nasty and I hadn’t organised an inspection.
“It’s forecast to go down as low as -2c, and the wind chill could be nasty, but providing we don’t go below -1c or -2c, then we should be fine.
Around £500,000 up for grabs on this weekend’s totescoop6.
National Hunt racing is back with a bang this weekend following the ‘big freeze’, and this weekend’s totescoop6 takes in races from both Haydock and Ascot as well as one race on the all-weather from Lingfield.
The bet wasn’t won last weekend which means there is currently £143,451 in the win fund whilst the bonus fund has risen to £220,016. All six races are live on Channel 4 with the highlight undoubtedly the Grade 1 Betfair Ascot Chase where Kauto Stone is currently the 2/1 favourite ahead of last year’s winner Riverside Theatre.
The totejackpot is at Haydock on Saturday whilst the totetrifecta rollover race will be the Betfair, Don’t Settle For Less Handicap Hurdle (3.35 Ascot).
totescoop6 races – 18/02/12
Leg 1: 2.10 Haydock
Leg 2: 2.25 Ascot
Leg 3: 3.00 Ascot
Leg 4: 3.20 Haydock
Leg 5: 3.35 Ascot
Leg 6: 4.00 Lingfield
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