Good Morning, Friend
Below you can find pro punter & paddock watcher, Adam Norman's, latest set of notes from recent trips to Catterick and Wetherby. As always they're an informative read and may help you identify more winners moving forward, including next season and beyond when the 'chasing types' see a fence.
The last time I emailed out i was heading off to Huntingdon. Around 14 owners and guests made the trip, we all met up early on, made camp in the O&T lounge, and had a great day. The camaraderie is an essential part of our experience.
Shan ran his usual honest race, getting outpaced a bit on that ground/losing his position turning in, before staying on again for a solid 5th. He jumped much better, will be better left handed and maybe on softer ground. He wasn't stopping come the line which may open up options over further, and that could turn out to be a strong enough race for the grade. It's great knowing every time we turn up he's going to try his best and run his race- that will win him enough in time, but we're going to have to find the right races for him and hopefully his turn isn't far away.
I did post Jack's feedback video on twitter, which you can watch HERE >>>
Punting wise, Shan was a solid EW return with 5 places having hit 16s at one point. My 'through the card' was saved by a tentative stab in the bumper at 11/2 or so, and having not had a winner all day, there was much relief track-side!
Moving on...
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Adam's Racing Round-Up
Catterick (Jan 25)
Supreme Gift has now won twice since I mentioned him here as a lovely one for the future when meeting with an unfortunate exit at Newcastle back in December. On both occasions he was ridden Alice Stevens, who looks competent enough for her 7lb claim, and was handled confidently to get the better of market rival Howlingmadmurdock.
The result makes some sense – with Blue Fin a close third – given the weight differentials and Henry Daly’s embryo chaser should benefit greatly from another summer to strengthen up. The low profile handling is typical of the trainer and I’m looking forward to seeing the horse progress. The runner-up has a different make and shape, lacking the scope of the winner, and could be more of a stayer. Blue Fin didn’t really catch the eye beforehand but will now get a mark and is a typical 110 McCain type.
Sue Smith’s Parelliroc didn’t build on his reappearance but looks more of a staying chaser, while Starevitch is no great shakes and looks well sold at 105k, although at this rate he’ll look well handicapped if his next outing is no better than this.
Roccowithlove made quite an impression here a fortnight ago and pre race concerns over the 6f shorter trip were allayed, with those backing Jo Foster’s horse into 9/4 bang on the money. He and Bolsover Bill jousted for the lead throughout but going that bit faster didn’t seem to concern the winner who just kept on galloping and won with any amount in hand. The handicapper won’t look kindly on this but with his jumping so solid the hat-trick is on the cards.
Where’s Hector did what he used to do on the flat and ran on eyecatchingly for third when the race was over. He’ll undoubtedly be well bet next time but I’d be wary of a horse that always gets outpaced at the wrong time. He just about has the size for fences, but no more. Ribeye is even smaller and isn’t certain to build on this decent first try at fences, while the rest were pretty disappointing and have questions to answer.
Happy And Fine was all the rage to back up victory here over the festive season but that was a pretty weak contest and the horse he beat there Hajey reversed the form with a typically honest display under a positive ride. I don’t think the enthusiastic Happy And Fine took very kindly to being restrained in behind and he’s better than this, but that shouldn’t detract from the winner’s effort and he was rightly strong in the market given his solid profile. The Wrekin looked really fit and well on his belated return to action but was beaten some way out, while Will Victory took a long drift in the betting and ran accordingly despite looking in good heart. She might be better back in same sex races.
Alnadam didn’t look fit, but that doesn’t explain his mulish effort and he appears to have fallen out of love with the game. He’d make a decent Pointer at this stage.
Another back for a repeat win was Git Maker and he looks like one that takes a while to warm up, as the further he went the better he looked and in truth the result wasn’t in doubt from a long way out. The Eider will surely come too soon this time around but he could be that type of horse with more experience under the belt. Conquredalofeurope didn’t appear to stay the longer trip at Haydock last time but as on his debut at Wetherby he got outpaced at the wrong time and was only staying on at the end. He could be a tricky customer and although the addition of blinkers didn’t make much difference when trained in Ireland, a return to stronger headgear looks the best route. He isn’t much to look at though and while they should be able to find a race he’s more likely to continue to frustrate.
The closing mares’ handicap was a desperate affair and one at the mercy of the unexposed Dime Store Cowgirl, who had recorded a decent figure in her Irish Point but hadn’t shown much under rules. However, she looked superior to the rest and, back down in trip, made the most of a lenient to run out a fairly easy winner, although connections will do well to find as poor a race as this next time.
Wetherby (Jan 26)
Jo Foster’s Roccowithlove had proved himself miles ahead of his mark yesterday and stablemate Ballynagran, who had finished a distance behind at Catterick a fortnight previously, gave the trainer another winner under a much more positive ride on this occasion before holding on tenaciously.
A strong chasing type, he looked a thorough stayer the time before but had to run from a 10lb higher mark in this better race. However, the main protagonists all had questions to answer and they came up short – Good Work again missing out in a driving finish over this longer trip. It really is hard to know whether he’s just been unlucky or there’s a temperament issue. He’s a bit of a giraffe and has his own way of jumping, which is always likely to be an issue.
Kaphumor ran a bit flat but some of Sue Smith’s haven’t looked that sharp this week and maybe they were held back by the recent freeze. The horse undoubtedly has his limitations, however.
It wasn’t a great juvenile contest that was won by Shared, for the fledgling H Derham yard. I wasn’t that taken by him in the prelims and the market seemed to agree, but nevertheless he came through to beat Chicago Gal who lacks a bit of substance at this stage. They looked to get racing a long way out and for all that this is difficult form to assess, the Easterby-trained Ring Of Beara is probably better than he’s looked so far and might be worth a go in handicaps with the age allowance.
Storm Tiger has been in the tracker for over a year and after giving the field several lengths at the start, came right through to take fourth close home in the manner of a horse that might be capable of winning this winter. A strong sort, he didn’t look anywhere near peak fitness and will surely be worth closer inspection if turned out again in a month or so. It’s not the first time he’s shown a bit of form and he clearly wants a longer trip, although he’s yet to prove he stays 3m.
The handicap chase looked a tight-knit contest but No Risk Des Flow put a rare blooper behind him with another assured display on a rare foray at an intermediate trip that clearly suits. Ubetya ran flat, suggesting a hard race at Haydock may have left its mark, while Viva Lavilla still has a bit to prove as once again he wasn’t that convincing off the bridle. Maybe better ground is the secret to this son of Getaway.
Etalon was big standout in the paddock prior to the novices hurdle and this good-looking individual is sure to rate much higher, especially when put over fences next term. The race was on for second but chief market rival Miss Lamb didn’t really appeal on her return from an absence, although she stayed on well considering how keen she was early on. Against her own sex, she should be winning again. I’ve noticed that Jonjo O’Neill has been getting loads of horses handicapped for some late winter/spring action and Big Ambition has come on substantially from his opening bumper where he looked very burly, he looks a real stayer but had the ability to chase home the winner over this minimum trip. Sea Village has enough about him to warrant a mention while McCain’s Present Fair still looked burly and this chasing type went well for a long way before getting tired. Ranging Bear looked backward and will need time, while another of Jonjos Letmetellusomething is a strong chasing type worth keeping an eye on. All the above cost a few quid and it might be a race worth watching again.
The mares’ chase saw Midnight Mary return to winning form on her chasing debut and she looks the sort to follow in this sphere, having great enthusiasm and a will to win. I don’t think she was anywhere close to being fully extended to win this and we know she stays 3m, so with her stable now in fine form there should be loads of options this spring. La Renommee is sparely made and leggy, making no appeal over fences, and yet seemed to jump well on the whole. She clearly has an engine but I’d be wary of backing her next time, while Lincoln Lyn similarly lacks the size and scope for fences although she just about matched the modest form of her previous success.
You don’t need me to tell you The Gooner was well sold at 280k in euros, well beaten here in the finale off a mark of 100. He’s still a bit unfurnished and backward but even so, he doesn’t strike me as a horse to look out for in the near term. One that I am interested in is Mark Walford’s Get Going, who travelled well in first-time cheekpieces but didn’t appear to see out the longer trip. A decent size, he’ll make a nice novice chaser next season when he’ll look very well handicapped, but I wonder if there’s a small race in him this spring when the ground dries out. I like these Getaways on good ground and it might help him see his race out better.
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All the best,
Josh
