25 October – AINTREE
Handicap Hurdle 2m1f Good Despite being a strong stayer on the flat EAGLE PEAK appears best over two-miles or a shave further on good or good to soft ground. He should find a race or two round a flat track. Garde Le Victoire clouted the last two hurdles, which ultimately cost him the race. He may jump fences better as he will need to treat them with more respect. Good or good to soft up to two and a half-miles, suits this useful horse. Handicap Hurdle 2m4f Good SPIRIT OF SHANKLY, who had a wind operation over the summer, ran on strongly to land a third win on seasonal reappearance. He is expected to stay three-miles but yet to win in a higher grade than Class Three. Best on good or good to soft around flat tracks. Saphir River ran a fair race in fourth. He is hard to catch right but is best on soft/ heavy ground in the winter months. Kingsmere ran well enough to suggest, he could win a similar grade three-mile hurdle on good or good to soft ground. Handicap Chase 2m4f Good WISHFULL THINKING bounced back to form on ground thought, by the trainers’ wife post-race comments, to be his best surface. In doing so, he recorded a career high RPR. Possibly, at his best when fresh, he will be a danger to all bar Grade One chasers on a going day. It his worth noting his two most recent wins came on heavy and soft ground! Edgardo Sol likes it at this track. He was given a hold-up ride. Kept close to the inside, he collided with the wings of several fences. He is not easy to place, but appears best on relatively flat left-handed tracks on good though too soft. Rolling Aces ran well in third having cut out a lot of the pace. He appears best on left or right-handed flat tracks on good through too soft. Uxizandre was not given an overly hard time in fourth. He lost a prominent position down the back straight before making ground before seeming to blow-up between the last two fences. Happiest when making the pace, one has to conclude connections felt he was too short of fitness to adopt his usual style of racing. Entered in the Paddy Power, his best RPR is 1lb less than Al Ferof’s, going into his 2012 victory. His handicap mark is 1lb lower, suggesting, if sent in that direction, he has a solid chance. Wherever he runs, a refitting of cheek-pieces would be deemed significant. Radjhani Express was just behind the leaders when Mr Waley-Cohen lost his irons in a very soft unseated rider. Module’s overall form suggests he is at his very best on soft ground over two or two and a quarter miles. Novices’ Chase 2m4f Good GOLDEN HOOF ran out a comfortable winner of his first chase. However, Horizontal Speed caught the eye. Having been hampered at the third fence, he ran too freely before Mr Johnson let him stride on turning out of the back straight for the first time. Consistently jumping to the right down the far side on the final circuit and keeping on well, he had nothing in reserve when the winner went passed. Horizontal Speed handles good through to soft and stays two and a half-miles. He may prove best going right-handed and making the running. 25 October – CHEPSTOW At Chepstow, SAUSILITO SUNRISE made an excellent start to his chasing career. Three-miles, good to soft or softer will see him in his best light. Connections believe he can be competitive in the top novice chases. Minella On Line is worth noting and looks the type to stay forever. Mosspark may prove best around two and a half-miles. In the Persian War Hurdle Blaklion put up a typical Twiston-Davies performance, grinding out a win, while his rivals wilted in his wake. His RPR, at this stage of his development, suggests normal improving will see him competitive in Grade One company. Second placed Vicente enhanced the form of the Cheltenham race that Paddy Power bound Present View, should have won. The Pirates Queen ran well in third, suggesting mares’ only races would prove a bountiful division to pursue.
