Last week felt somewhat light on potential Supreme Novice
hurdlers, with, probably, the most informative race in that sphere coming at
Cheltenham on Friday. Village Vic was made favourite primarily on the back of
his useful looking second behind The New One at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting in
October and on the assumption that a drop back in trip in bad ground would see
improvement from him. Unfortunately for connections, just like when behind
Coneygree at Cheltenham’s Open meeting in November, Village Vic was a no show
leaving those behind him in the market to fight it out.
On bumper form alone Melodic Rendezvous deserved to be
favourite, following a saunter to victory round Chepstow he finished a good,
but distant, second to Champagne Fever in Punchestown’s Champion Bumper, crucially,
on heavy ground. It was also heavy ground at Cheltenham and there were doubts
about most of his opponents in such testing conditions, yet it was still
significantly less testing than Melodic Rendezvous had faced at Punchestown. It
was strange then that his trainer, Jeremy Scott, made public his concerns over
the ground and, although it could be put down to most trainers’ natural cautiousness,
that must have contributed to him starting as big as 4/1, that, along with his
previous start over hurdles at Exeter. There, he was seemingly beaten by a highly
useful prospect in Mr Mole, but he was well beaten next time leaving some doubt
over the form, despite the third winning on his next start. At Exeter it was
over the same trip as at Cheltenham (2m1f) and he appeared to lack the pace of
the winner there, suggesting a step up in trip may benefit him. After his win
on Friday connections were of a similar mind, and while he did show pace at the
weekend the gruelling conditions will have aided him as it brought out his
stamina which, once the ground dries up, will more likely than not be used over
trips in excess of two miles, with the expected Festival target at this stage
being the Neptune. Were it to be soft in March Jeremy Scott and connections may
change their minds but, while it is presumptive to judge the race at this
stage, Friday’s contest does not look strong enough to suggest that Melodic
Rendezvous deserves to be strongly considered as a major player for the Cheltenham
Festival curtain raiser.
It may be harsh to take dim view of the race at this stage
but the pace was muddling, with most of the field in relatively close proximity
crossing the line. Melodic Rendezvous was quite impressive in the way he moved
around and upsides those who had briefly denied him a clear run on approach to
the last thus he certainly isn’t without considerable speed, but having been
beaten for pace at Exeter it is hard to believe that the Cheltenham race was especially
strong. Nick Schofield rode Melodic Rendezvous well on Friday, knowing he had a
horse with enough class and experience the jockey brought his horse into the
desired position when it necessitated, unlike the eye-catcher of the race, who
chased him home in second, ROYAL BOY.
Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old was an easy winner of his
point-to-point and joined the star trainer some time ago but a setback forced
him out for the whole of last season. Friday was his hurdling debut after a significant
layoff, and while he has everything in the looks department it was difficult to
know what to expect from this son of Lavirco. After a couple of stuttering
leaps he really took to hurdling, attacking the flights with precision, he was
quick through the air and he demonstrated just what scope he has, pointing to
his real future over the larger obstacles. He travelled strongly through the race
but as Barry Geraghty took Royal Boy wide round the home turn, in order to find
his favoured stands rail, he was slightly outpaced with a wall of horses in
front of him and the Nigel Twiston-Davies runner, Imperial Leader, slowing down
on the rail blocking his path through. Once the gap appeared after the last
Geraghty went after Royal Boy and he picked up quickly, storming home but never
looking like reaching the winner who was already clear, Melodic Rendezvous’ extra
experience told.
Royal Boy is an exciting prospect on that evidence and for a
winning pointer, much like River Maigue at Cheltenham’s November meeting, the
slow pace and sprint up the hill would not have played to his strengths. It is
possible that he will be seen to better effect over further but I felt he
showed that he had enough toe through the race to suggest that a truly run two
miles could suit him, once he gains more experience it could be dangerous to write him off in stronger races over that trip. Despite the winner being well thought
of, for whom a fruitful hurdling campaign was expected, the horse to take from
the race must be Nicky Henderson’s charge.
Back in third on Friday was Eduard, who having given six
pounds to the front two ran a solid race however I am not convinced he ran to
his best and there is more to come, possibly up in trip and on better ground.
The other main protagonist, who was expected to run well, was Alan King’s
flashy chestnut, Valdez, but sadly he was disappointing like Village Vic. Valdez
seemed to travel well for a long way but was clearly running too free on that
ground and he almost certainly failed to handle the testing conditions. While
he may not have been up to this class in any case, Valdez has valuable races in
him and Alan King should get back on track without too much difficulty.
NAVAN
This blog has become almost exclusively about those horses
and races that could have an impact on the Supreme Novices Hurdle but I feel it
would be remiss of me not to mention the Navan Novice Hurdle (G1) on Sunday, a
race likely to have far more impact on novice hurdles over three miles than
two.
The race beforehand was all about Gordon Elliott’s star
horse, Don Cossack. Very exciting in bumpers, this giant son of Sholokhov won
nicely on hurdling debut, with the odd jumping blemish, and was expected to
prove unbeatable over the longer trip with that experience behind him. However,
he was comprehensively beaten by Pont Alexandre, an expensive French recruit
for Rich Ricci and Willie Mullins, even before he, literally, fell in a hole
after the last.
With Ruby Walsh, evidently full of confidence, on board Pont
Alexandre set off in front and was never headed. He was brisk over his hurdles nearly
throughout, with only a tendency to jump slightly right worth noting, though
that is only a very minor concern. This was an impressive performance
from a four-year-old in a Grade 1 on only his second hurdling start and first
in Ireland. The most striking part of this display was the manner in which he
drew away from the hyped-up Gigginstown gelding between two out and the last.
Victory was sealed when he cleared the final flight and as Mullins said
afterwards ‘he could still be anything.’ There is a chance he needs very soft
ground, with him apparently only impressing at home once the ground became
heavy but I wouldn’t get too caught up in that and while he should be fully
effective in a race like the Neptune, at this moment in time, that looks like
the novice event of the Festival. Pont Alexandre ran like a real stayer on
Sunday and, despite Coneygree winning with something to spare again at
Cheltenham on Saturday, the Albert Bartlett might be his for the taking.
Don Cossack, known as “The Don” at home,
disappointed. He is a big unit who has his own jumping technique, sadly for his
supporters that technique is less than desirable and it wouldn’t be harsh to
describe his as clumsy. It is too early to write him off, the esteem in which
he’s held by his trainer is enough to justify giving him a few more chances, as
was the imperious nature of his last three bumper runs. He still has untapped
potential over hurdles but unless his jumping improves dramatically, Cheltenham
aspirations will have to be put on hold for at least this season. Connections
of Don Cossack have been keen to emphasise that they want to tread carefully
with him as chasing will be his forte. That will be something to look forward
to, but as the jumps season revolves around Cheltenham he could have a major
problem when it comes to March, either over hurdles or fences, and that is a
need for soft ground. I would be surprised if he acts on anything quicker, and
even more surprised if his connections risked him on it.
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