Review of the day

So, how do you sum up a day like today..? What a roller coaster !!

First in to bat for team TVB, was Arnaud…

I’d taken a bit of a flyer on him, because I knew he might struggle if the ground was too soft.

However, I also knew that he jumped like a stag (relatively speaking, for a novice) – and so it proved…

He went from fence to fence under Denis O’Regan – with it seemingly making absolutely no difference to him whether he met one long or short.

To say he gave his rivals a lesson in jumping, is an understatement.

So much so, that it simply looked a question of how far, as he cruised into the home straight with everything in behind him hard at work.

He was still a good 6 lengths clear taking the second last – but then the distress signals started to show. His stride began to shorten and although he was still a couple of lengths ahead jumping the last, the writing was on the wall.

He so didn’t deserve to lose – but ultimately, last nights rain did for him.

Gutting L

Next it was Super Villan at Cheltenham – and when Jamie Moore is writing his Christmas list next year, I suggest he puts ‘brain’ on it…

As you know, I’m not one to criticise jockeys, but what on earth was he doing going head to head with Anacotty from the off, in such deep ground.

It is testament to Anncottys huge ability that he was still in with a chance jumping the last.
Long before then, Super Villan had cried enough…

Harry Topper came was next up – and although he was beaten, I have got few complaints…

I knew he would be sluggish over his fences – I just hoped that his engine would be good enough to overcome that deficiency.

It wasn’t, as ultimately, all he could do was run up the hill to claim third.

The race was won in emphatics style by The Giant Bolster – which I guess was a bit of a kick in the teeth.

We were on him twice last season - and have been on him twice more this season - and he’s not collected on a single occasion for us…

I thought he would struggle in todays ground – but he handled it fine.

I think the word is ‘enigmatic’…

The most disappointing results of the day, were undoubtedly those of the 2 big handicaps in Ireland…

I accept that you are taking a bit of a chance when you tip 20/1 shots – but I really did expect better from both Operating and Leah Claire (especially the latter).

Operating fell when starting to feel the pinch when he came down at the second last (Living Next Door had decanted his jockey at he previous fence); whilst Leah Claire was already struggling, when squeezed for room round the home turn…

Neither will go down as my finest tips – and I think I probably over staked them a little as well…

So ultimately, it all came down to Lac Fontana, who came to the crease as the 'last man'…

And did he let us down – he certainly did not J

In fact, he bolted up, in the style of a horse who is well ahead of the handicapper (as I hoped might be the case).
More than that, he was followed home by Totalise – the horse I had nominated as the danger in the race (though I doubt very much that any of you were feeling brave enough to be doing forecasts by that point !).

That said, it had been a similar situation with one of the mentions, earlier in the afternoon…

As I said in the write-up, I intended to tip Wishful Thinking but felt that the ground had just gone against him.

I resisted, so it was a little irritating to watch him power up the hill –with the nominated danger, Double Ross, a couple of lengths behind…

Such is life…

The other mentions didn’t do quite so well – though I did give myself a pat on the back for swerving the Great Yorkshire chase.

What ever I messed up in Ireland was more than covered by me not getting involved with that particular contest !!

Bellenos and Elmore Back both disappointed badly at Doncaster, but Empire of Dirt ran a cracker at Leopardstown and can consider himself very unlucky not to have collected…

Which just leaves the Cleeve hurdle to report back on…

This morning I couldn’t see a scenario that would improve our ante post position with Reve De Sivola – and sure enough, I think our position there got a little worse…

Reve himself, ran poorly to only finish fourth. The ground should have suited him perfectly, so it’s difficult to offer an explanation as to why (unless connections didn’t want him to be given a hard race !).

I thought Big Bucks ran a cracker though – even in defeat.

The old horse looked as good as ever, with just lack of race sharpness eventually catching him out.
However the issue now, is how he will come out of the race: both tomorrow – and whether he will 'bounce' next time out.

Only time will tell on that one…

TVB.