Rouge Vif vs Altior
04-12-2020
HWR WEEKLY NEWS
The countdown to Christmas is on and we have a jam packed month full of racing. Having past the finishing post of the second lockdown we've now moved into a new tiered system which has seen a welcome return to racegoers on a number of tracks this week. Finally some atmosphere injected back into these much loved sporting arenas, and what better timing than for the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown tomorrow. Rouge Vif will be looking to take on the mighty Altior in this feature race during another blockbuster day with no less than 8 runners heading out of Hill Barn - which of your favourites will you be cheering on this weekend...
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Sir Sholokhov made his debut for the yard at Newbury on Friday in a competitive maiden hurdle. There was not a lot of pace on early but he settled nicely in a handy position. He jumped extremely well throughout and from the back of the second last he looked to have every chance. It was all about whether his wind would hold up. He ran on extremely well to finish a solid 3rd. Daryl reported afterwards that his wind did hold up, and were very pleased with the run. We will now look to step him up to two and a half miles for his next run. |
| Anemoi was the second of our trio of runners at Newbury on Friday. He lined up in a race that we thought would really suit him and as a yard have had huge success in previously. He had won nicely the time before at Chepstow on soft ground but had to make the running. There was plenty of pace on here which meant that we could drop in, but he got a slow jump at the first and from there on in he was very much behind the bridle. He could never get into the race and it was a disappointing run. We are now giving him a full MOT to see if we can find anything out before running him again. |
Neverbeen to Paris concluded our trio of runners at Newbury on Friday. He set sail in a very competitive handicap and the final race on the card. We felt he would improve for a step up in distance again and a galloping track, so this was worth having a go at. We added the cheekpieces and Gavin jumped him off with the leaders. He slotted him in mid division where he got into a beautiful rhythm all the way around. This is the first time we have really seen him travel and jump for a while. Turning into the straight, he was in a handy position and looked to have every chance. He was very game from the back of the second last and only went down by three lengths to two very useful types, including the runner up who has Grade 1 form. It was a career best and we will now look forward to a similar opportunity for him in the future.
| Breaking Waves made his yard debut at Newbury on Saturday. The race looked a competitive one on paper but nevertheless a good starting point for him. We had done plenty of work with his schooling at home as he needed plenty of confidence after having surgery on his back this summer. Page Fuller lined him up with the leaders and with nice jumps over the first 2 fences he was able to land a good early position. He got in a bit tight to one in the home straight and was slightly slow at the water, but apart from that he was attacking his fences. As they turned down the back, he unfortunately slipped on the turn and unseated Page. He is none the worse though and has now been declared to run again at Wetherby tomorrow. |
| Later that day Seddon made his debut for the yard up at Doncaster. Having shown some excellent form throughout his career we were looking forward to running him. This handicap looked a good opportunity on some better ground and there was a bit of pace on, so we rode him handy down the rail. As they turned away from the stands down the back straight, he made a small mistake and the ground conditions worsened. He found it very difficult to jump out of the ground and he couldn't hold his position. He then came home in his own time. He managed to pull a shoe off during the race and is very sore so we shall give him some time before running him again, most likely over hurdles next time out. |
| Early Morning Dew headed to Southwell on Tuesday for his second start in a bumper. The form from his first run looked very strong so we felt this would be a good opportunity for him. There was no pace on at all and they crawled for the first circuit and a half. As they turned into the straight he made up a bit of ground and looked to have every chance. Unfortunately he didn't find much off the bridle and came home at the one pace. It looks like he is more of a galloper now and he is probably set to go over hurdles in the future. |
| Qualismart lined up in a decent introductory hurdle at Haydock on Wednesday. Having been impressive on debut we always felt that he would be better on really soft ground, so we were looking forward to seeing if he could run well here. It was a messy race from the offset and he didn't really settle over the first couple of flights. As they turned to go down the back the pace quickened which then meant that when they turned in for home a number of them were beginning to tire. Qualismart found it difficult to jump out of the ground and he came home in 3rd position. We will freshen him up now before running him again on some better ground in a novice hurdle under a penalty. |
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Deer Hunter made his handicap debut at Ludlow on Wednesday. Having progressed nicely over hurdles we felt this was a good race for him. He travelled well throughout the race and he jumped his way in to contention down the back straight. As they turned for home he was going the best. He was a bit green on the run in however, but ran on to finish a solid 3rd. He is off to the sales today having been sourced to trade. He is a very sound horse who will win races. |
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Booley Beach also headed to Ludlow on Wednesday, running back in another bumper having shaped with a huge amount of promise on debut. It was a big field with plenty of good pedigrees, so a decent race on paper. She travelled well throughout the race in a handy position and turning into the straight she looked the winner. From 2 out, she just stayed on at the same pace and finished 3rd. She is a very nice horse for the future and another who will soon be for sale. |
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| Fiscal Prudence headed to Market Rasen yesterday to run in the juvenile hurdle, this time with a hood to help him settle as he was far too keen on his first start over hurdles at Warwick in November. His jumping has always been fantastic so we were really hopeful that with a change in tactics to making the running that he would give himself a chance of running a race. He was just a little bit keen the whole way and never gave himself a chance to get home but he jumped well and shaped as if he had the speed for going back to the flat. |
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Give Us A Swig is making the trip down to Exeter today for his second start over hurdles. The form from his first race is working out really well so we're hopeful that he can progress in this sphere. He showed promise on that day and was unlucky in running. This is a good track for him with a big field and hopefully we will learn plenty more. He should improve for a step up in trip in time but he has been schooling well and we are looking forward to running him. |
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She'soneofourown is another who is set to her have second start over hurdles today, she will line up at Sedgefield. She showed plenty of speed last time out and the track should suit her well. She should do nothing but improve with time as she is only a four year old and slightly on the weak side still. Hopefully she can show some progression and run a nice race here. |
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| Rouge Vif is in fantastic shape at home and we couldn't be happier with him. We are praying that the rain stays away so that he can take his chance in the Tingle Creek tomorrow. This is a competitive Grade 1 with the likes of Altior in the opposition. He is an improving horse so hopefully he can run a big race and show us that he can mix it with the big boys in the top 2 mile chase division. |
| Dargiannini will have his first run over hurdles at Aintree tomorrow. He has been schooling nicely at home and we are looking forward to running him. He was extremely impressive on debut back in October and hopefully he can continue to progress this season. The track is ideal for him and the conditions should suit him well. It is a small field with a couple of decent rivals, but hopefully he can run a nice race and show us he has a big future over obstacles. |
| Jammy George will line up at Chepstow tomorrow, running on softer ground which is hopefully what he needs to see him at his best. The race looks a competitive one but hopefully he can bounce back to form in the first time visor. He needs to be ridden handy this time and hopefully on the ground he will show improvement. The track should suit him well and we have always felt that he would improve for a fence, so hopefully he will prove that. |
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Bigmartre has been declared to run at Aintree tomorrow. He in really good form at home and the ground was just a bit quick for him last time out. The conditions should be ideal on this occasion and it is a big drop in class. He has always enjoyed the track, so hopefully now he has dropped a few pounds he can run a big race in what looks like an ideal opportunity on paper. |
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| See The Eagle Fly will take her chance in the Juvenile Fillies Listed race at Aintree tomorrow. She has shaped well in her two starts so far this season, and this is a good opportunity for her to try and pick up some black type. It is a competitive affair as it would be for this type of race but, Gavin felt last time that the better the race, the better she will run. She has been in good form so hopefully she will settle, jump well and put in a decent performance. |
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Captain Tommy will line up at Chepstow tomorrow in the Welsh Grand National trial. He has been very progressive over fences so far and holds an entry for the big race over Christmas time. He seems to enjoy running in good handicaps off a lightweight so this race should suit him well. We look forward to seeing if he can shape nicely and show that he can potentially take his chance in the Welsh Grand National. |
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Docpickedme is another who will head to Chepstow tomorrow. Having shaped really nicely on his debut over hurdles we are looking forward to running him again. He won a point to point from his only start last season and hopefully he can continue to progress for these new connections. The conditions should suit him, the track is perfect and he's a very likeable individual. |
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Breaking Waves was unfortunate to slip up on the bend at Newbury last week, but he is none the worse for that. We were thrilled with how he jumped up until that point and we have him in at Wetherby tomorrow. This is his first start over 3 miles but given his pedigree, he should have no problem getting the trip. The race should run at a slower pace which will suit him as well, and we are looking forward to getting him out again. |
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Torigni is set to run again in a competitive handicap hurdle at Huntingdon on Sunday. Having shaped with plenty of promise on debut at Wetherby after such a long lay off he has come out of that race well. The track and the trip should suit him and hopefully he can take another step forward. |
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Poldark Cross holds a couple of entries next week and we will look for the right conditions before running him again. He has been in great form at home and has come out of his last race well. He shaped really nicely on that occasion and we are looking forward to running him again. We will keep him to this trip for now until we learn a bit more. No doubt we will step him up in trip once he has his handicap mark. |
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Cateline will likely line up at Fontwell on Tuesday on her second hurdles start. Having been very green on debut at Uttoxeter the experience will have done her the world of good and we have schooled her again between runs. We are running her again now so that it is fresh in her mind, and hopefully she can take a step forward and run a good race. |
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Shore Shanty is another who has a couple of entries next week. Wherever she goes hopefully she can run a big race again. She has shaped with so much promise so far in her career and she now has the tougher task of doing it under a penalty. She is talented mare however and we look forward to getting her out again to see if she can defy the weight. |
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| Henrietta Bell has been such a warrior and always runs her race, we will look to run her again next week. She has an entry at Uttoxeter over 3 miles on Tuesday where she will likely take her chance. She has won around this track and always runs well there. This is a drop in class to a 0-120 so hopefully she can run a big race. |
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Black Abbey is likely to head to Leicester on Wednesday. Here he is taking a drop in class in a race over two miles that should suit him well. He is a bonnie little horse that we hope is well handicapped when running in his right conditions. This looks the right sort of race for him and we are looking forward to running him again |
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| Artistic Language improved plenty for his third position last time out, and is now set to run at Newcastle on Thursday. He didn't get the run of the race last time so we hope that given he ran well in these conditions, this might be an opportunity to get his head in front. He is in good form at home so we are looking forward to running him. |
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