A BUMPER WEEK
06-10-2017
THIS WEEK It's been a bumper week, in more ways than one with brilliant debut performances to kick start the season ahead and another winner to report. Momentum is building and we're kicking on... REPORTS Simply The Betts made his first racecourse appearance a winning one, with a classy display at Market Rasen on Saturday. It looked a very competitive bumper on paper and it proved to be just that. Bettsy settled just behind the leader under jockey Brian Cooper and travelled nicely throughout the contest. The field started to string out turning for home and when Brian asked for an effort he picked up well. He forced his way through a gap and set off for the winning post. He was green in front, but still won by 1 ¾ lengths. He is an extremely talented horse and we can’t wait to see what he’s capable of going forward. Fou et Sage finished 11th in the Listed handicap hurdle on the same card. He jumped well on the whole and travelled nicely, but the way the race panned out meant it was difficult to make ground from off the pace. It was his first run for a long time and he will improve for it. His next start will be in the listed handicap hurdle on Sodexo Gold Cup day at Ascot. Glenmona produced an excellent display to finish 2nd on her debut for the yard at Stratford on Monday. She jumped off in front but was headed at an early stage by the hard pulling Malindi Bay. They went steady enough for the first circuit, before some pace was injected down the back straight. This strung the field out, but she travelled as well as any of her rivals and found her way to the front. Turning in she looked to have the race all but won, but couldn’t quicken as well as the eventual winner Lucca Lady. This was a very pleasing debut and she can only improve from here. She is another nice recruit. Vinnie Lewis produced a cracking performance to finish 3rd on his return from a break at Bangor on Wednesday. It was his first chase start under rules and he produced a cracking display of jumping. He travelled exuberantly throughout the contest but was just outpaced at 4 out, before staying on well to take 3rd in the dying strides. He can only improve from here and will relish easier ground, around more galloping tracks this winter. Salto Chisco produced another gutsy performance to finish 4th on the same card at Bangor. It was a strongly run race, which was dominated by a couple of rivals that returned to form. Salto went through the race well and was still there with every chance jumping 3 out, but wasn’t able to pick up as well as the eventual 1st and 2nd. He was run down for 3rd by a late closer, but it was another excellent performance. He will now head to the charity race at Wincanton on the 29th, before going for a well-earned winter break. ENTRIES Court Liability is set to make his debut for the yard in a bumper at Fontwell tomorrow. He showed a very high level of form in his only start in Irish point to points and is ready to make his rules debut. He is a laid back character at home and is bred to be a smart staying chaser in time, but we will start him here to learn some more about him. He is a 4yo that we are looking forward to. Ritasun has been declared to run at Redcar tomorrow in a seller and whilst also holding an entry at Ludlow on Wednesday in a 0-110 handicap hurdle over 2m. He ran a good race at Bangor last time and has been freshened up since. He can be free in his races so a good pace is important, as is good ground. He should be competitive wherever he goes. Bigmartre is set to make his first start in a chase for the yard at Ludlow on Wednesday. He has been a star for the yard winning 3 times in the last 2 seasons and representing us in some top handicaps. He has the physique of a chaser and we expect him to improve for a switch to the larger obstacles. His mark of 132 means he can start off in novice handicaps and the Ludlow track should suit his front running style. He is a horse who goes well fresh. Charlie Papa Lima is set to have his final start of a busy summer next week. The first of his entries is at Towcester on Wednesday in a National Hunt only handicap hurdle. He has been competitive all summer without getting his head in front, but the handicapper has dropped him back down to the mark that he went so close off at Southwell. With a bit of luck he should be competitive once again. Hoke Colburn is set to have his first handicap hurdle start at Exeter on Thursday. He won his bumper in good fashion last season, before running well in novice hurdles at Hereford. He has come back in a stronger, more mature horse and is certainly capable of improving on his rating of 113. The trip of 2m 3f will be as short as he wants, but it’s a nice starting point. He will improve as he steps up in distance through the year. Guiding Stars has multiple bumper entries over the next week or so and the first of those is at Worcester on Thursday. He ran a much improved race to finished 2nd at the track last time, finishing 9 lengths clear of the 3rd. He can only improve from that run and should be capable of going very close in his next bumper start. If he doesn’t run at Worcester, he has options at Newton Abbot and Chepstow later in the week. The Go Tou Man is soon to make his racecourse debut and currently holds entries in 4 bumpers. He took time to come to hand in the spring but has been working nicely this autumn. He is a powerful and hardy type by Shantou from a good staying family and he isn’t short of character either. He is fit and well and we will learn a lot from this run. Jack Bear is entered at Worcester in a handicap hurdle on Thursday, but is likely to wait for the jump jockeys flat race at Goodwood next Sunday. He made a pleasing return from his break at Kempton last time and has been dropped to a mark of 75 for his next start. He is still 11lbs higher than his last win but should be competitive in this 4yo and up contest. He will then get the chance to switch back to hurdles and hopefully exploit his mark of 105. He is in good form at home. Until next week...