In the News
There’s been plenty of racing since our last letter, so we’ve got plenty to catch up on.
Dame Rose stepped up into Grade One company for the first time, but wasn’t quite right and was pulled up, while Shantou Flyer bounced back to form with a good second at Cheltenham. Both run again tomorrow in what will be a big day for our yard.
Speaking of Cheltenham, things are starting to gear up towards the Festival and we’ve made our first entries for the 2018 edition. Shantou Flyer has received entries in both the Gold Cup and the Ryanair Chase. He will have to continue his upward curve from last time out to warrant a place in those races, but if he does then he isn’t a forlorn hope. Another who has a few different entries already is Allysson Monterg in the National Hunt Chase, the RSA Chase and also the JLT Chase. He’s yet to see fences on a racetrack and we’re taking it slowly after his injury last season, but we felt he warranted an entry just in case. Finally, Dame Rose also has an entry in the Mares Hurdle on Day One over two mile four.
Previous Runners
Dame Rose ran in the Grade One Challow Hurdle at Newbury, stepping up to two-mile four for the first time. She didn’t jump with her usual fluency and led for most of the way but was harried all the way around by Mulcahys Hill. She didn’t see out her race, perhaps due to the heavy ground in the further trip, but she certainly wasn’t quite herself, so Harry Skelton pulled her up after she weakened away. Going forward, she has an entry in the very valuable Betfair Hurdle, back at Newbury. It would be a step back down in trip to two miles. A strong gallop would suit her and it’s a race novices traditionally do well in.
Ramonex has flourished since our latest letter, firstly winning in emphatic fashion at Catterick on New Year’s Day. He made all under Danny Cook, jumping very well and emphatically drawing clear in the home straight. He was eased down after the last but still won by three and a half lengths. Following that, he made the long journey up to Kelso to run in a valuable two-mile six handicap chase. Danny Cook again took the ride and he jumped well again. One slight mistake when he nodded on landing on the final circuit, but he looked all the way like he was winning. Until he wasn’t. In the shadow of the post, Un Guet Apens managed to pull out a bit more and put his nose ahead to steal the spoils for James Ewart. It certainly felt like a long way home after getting chinned, but we can take great heart from his performance. He’s gone up a total of eleven lbs for those two runs, but there might be more to come.
Shantou Flyer also ran on New Years Day, attempting to retain his title in the Grade Three BetBright Handicap Chase. Sporting first-time cheekpieces, he put in a much-improved effort to finish second. With Mitchell Bastiyan on board claiming five, he was always prominent and put in a good round of jumping, apart from when he hit four out. That knocked the stuffing out of him momentarily, but Mitch got him going again and he stayed on really well to finish less than two lengths behind the eventual winner Ballyhill. It’s a shame about the mistake, because he was cruising at the time and he stayed on up to line. Having been dropped three for his run at Wetherby on Boxing Day, he went up four lbs again for this run, so he’s in effect one lbs higher than before Christmas.
Etoo Sport went to Hereford on the 16th of January, but he was disappointing. He set off in the lead early, but weakened quickly and didn’t complete the race, with Charlie Hammond pulling him up when he was well behind. I don’t think we’ll be carrying on with that project.
Going Gold ran earlier today, finishing a well-beaten fourth at Doncaster, having raced prominently. We were hoping that the step up in trip would help in, having stayed on well in his bumper run at Carlisle, but he faded quickly from two out. We’ll get him back and make sure he’s alright, but it was a disappointing effort for us.
Finally, we have Echo Watt, who made his debut over hurdles at Sandown on Tolworth day under Charlie Hammond. Charlie had given him a great ride in his bumper win and we were pleased he was available to retain the ride. He was plenty green and was a bit slow over a couple. He’s a good size, but still a big baby. He proved that next time out at Warwick where he was a bit edgy and jumped right at the first to unseat Charlie.
This week’s runners
A big day tomorrow with Dame Rose running in the Grade Two OLBG Yorkshire Rose Mares Hurdle at Doncaster over two mile and half a furlong. It’s her first time out of novice company, but back down in trip, which we feel will suit her better at this stage of her career. She’s previously won over C&D in a bumper last year, so she knows the track at least and we are delighted to have secured the services of leading Irish jockey Davy Russell. Hopefully, she’ll do us proud.
About fifty minutes earlier and a lot further South, Shantou Flyer will be tackling the Grade Three Crest Nicholson Handicap Chase at Cheltenham over two mile and just shy of five furlongs. He improved for the fitting of cheek-pieces last time out over C&D, which we have put on him again today. The ground’s not quite as soft as it was that day, which should be in his favour. The very promising James Bowen takes over in the saddle from Mitch Bastiyan, claiming three and we’re looking forward to the pair linking up.
Our final entry for next week is Echo Watt who has entries at Leicester on Wednesday, in a two mile claiming hurdle and Towcester on Thursday in a two-mile three novice hurdle. Both are expected to have pretty deep ground, which he coped with fairly well at Ffos Las in his bumper, but we’ll make a decision on running closer to the time.
Finally
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