Over a period of about 15 minutes on Friday afternoon, two
exceptional looking novices made their hurdling debuts. Oscar Rock (Wetherby)
and Carraig Mor (Uttoxeter) took their respective fields apart, winning hard
held in both cases by nineteen and twenty-five lengths respectively. Each came
into their races with great expectations, Oscar Rock having lit up the bumper
scene and Carraig Mor having impressed onlookers in his sole point to point as
well as his trainer in that sphere, Adrian Maguire. Carraig Mor’s jumping was
the more accomplished but neither set of connections could be blamed for already
having at least one eye on the Cheltenham Festival. The Neptune and Albert
Bartlett novices’ hurdles will inevitably come under consideration having begun
their hurdling careers over two-and-a-half miles, and they are a pair every
National Hunt fan can look forward to.
The Liquidator,
having begun his hurdling career last week over two miles and one furlong, does
have Supreme prospects despite being thought of as a stayer in some quarters. Bought
out of Shark Hanlon’s yard, following a placed effort in a hot Fairyhouse
bumper, The Liquidator started his career for David Pipe in the Listed National
Hunt flat race at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting. On this occasion, on an afternoon
where it appeared particularly difficult to make up ground, he travelled
sweetly in midfield, only moving into a share of the lead as they turned for
home. The effort to make up this ground in the holding conditions took its toll,
as he was outstayed by the long-time leader, Anonis. He followed up this
promising effort with, essentially, a trot around Exeter against three vastly
inferior rivals. Little was learnt from that exercise and he returned to
Cheltenham for the Champion Bumper still, somewhat, as an unknown quantity. For
whatever reason The Liquidator didn’t seem comfortable for much of the contest,
possibly struggling with the pace, despite its lack of ferocity, but he never
completely lost his position and he stayed on encouragingly after being left
behind by the first three, almost snatching third on the line. Finishing so
well in a race notoriously tough on horses could have spelt the end of a successful
season for David Pipe’s recruit but given his admirable consistency and
progression from run to run he was handed the opportunity to finish on a high.
In Punchestown’s equivalent bumper to Cheltenham’s Champion
version, won the previous season by Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Champagne
Fever, rising star Jane Mangan was offered the ride. Ridden handily on the
outside of runners, the pace was no issue this time as he travelled like the Grade
1 animal he would soon prove to be. Produced to lead entering the straight, the
son of Overbury quickened clear at the furlong pole and saw the race out gamely
as challengers plugged on at the one pace. It was a textbook ride and a textbook
performance from this five-year-old, one that must not be underestimated as the
next three all won on their hurdling debuts, with the second, Gilt Shadow,
looking particularly impressive in doing so on Saturday.
Purely in form terms such success could have been predicted,
but having seen him in the flesh on each English start last season it did
surprise me. The Liquidator was a scrawny, lightly framed, essentially unimposing
individual last season and as a result I convinced myself he could not achieve
what one might have hoped, particularly over hurdles. If I was going to be
against one exciting bumper performer from last season over hurdles it was
going to be him yet reports were that he had filled his inconsiderable frame
over the summer and developed well. From what I could see of him on television before
his introduction to hurdles at Carlisle it was hard to get away from the sense
that he had grown and, in relation to his rivals, become a more imposing
specimen. He then put in a display that forced me to reconsider and, even at
this early stage, I have to see him as a realistic contender for the Supreme,
if that is the route they choose to go down.
David Pipe enjoys starting his talented novices in weak
events in order to build confidence. For The Liquidator he certainly found a
field that lacked any serious dangers. Consequently, it is easy to write this
off as a race that The Liquidator should be winning easily and think little
more of it however I am keen to be very positive. Unsurprisingly, he cruised
through the race and quickened clear in effortless fashion, outclassing his
floundering rivals, confirming the impression he left last season. Here it was
his jumping that grabbed my attention. While he may lack the scope for a chaser
he does not lack the athleticism and it is understandable if that is the
ultimate aim. The Liquidator showed a natural aptitude for jumping at Carlisle,
making the right shape over each hurdle, treating them with the right mix of
respect and attack. His technique is such that it should stand up to the
pressure of a stronger pace, in a higher quality field. Very few hurdling debutants
will jump with such authority, therefore, while it might feel natural to step
him up in distance the greatest advantage to be gained, from this asset, will
be over the minimum trip.
I hope The Liquidator will have a campaign geared around the
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He may lack the raw speed and quality of some but the
ability to see out the trip strongly is crucial. There could be a niggling
doubt about his suitability for Cheltenham given his two defeats last season
came at the venue however one was on ground that played against him while the
other was the toughest race of its kind hence it would be remiss of anyone to
be too critical of that run and he has improved since.
If you already fancy The Liquidator for the Festival’s
traditional curtain raiser the real concern is the prospect of him running
instead in the Neptune over two miles and five furlongs. Soft ground round
Carlisle would have been a stamina test in and of itself and The Liquidator
powered clear up the run-in, with the margin of victory increasing the further
he went. This run gave every indication that he would be just as effective, if
not more so over further and when one looks back again at the Champion Bumper,
he stormed up the Cheltenham hill in a race that traditionally suits stayers.
Finally, David Pipe’s strength in the last season’s bumper division may prove
significant as he could have an even more exciting prospect for the Supreme, potentially
more exciting than any British trained hopeful, in the shape of Red Sherlock. He
has a huge amount more to prove than The Liquidator, not least in the jumping
department, but he showed an element of brilliance last season that his stablemate
just lacks. With such a long way to go I am perhaps getting ahead of myself and
I am arguably doing The Liquidator a disservice since even as the season
progresses it will be difficult to find a more solid proposition for the top
novice hurdle prizes.
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