stodge
18th October 2004, 9:53 PM
It was a glorious autumn afternoon in east Sussex and a large crowd came to Plumpton for the annual Moorcroft Charity Day. Among the celebrities in attendance were Jimmy Hill, Brough Scott and the star of the show, Dick Francis.
The ground looked to be riding nearly perfect after the recent rains. A drying couple of days had clearly helped.
Race 1 was a claiming hurdle over two miles. On the figures, FAIT LE JOJO was entitled to win this and that’s what happened. Richard Johnson had the gelding jumping well in front and had main rivals KAPAROLO and BLUE STREAK beaten before the third last. MAJLIS chased home the winner, who was heavily eased on the run-in. Both FAIT LE JOJO and BLUE STREAK were subsequently claimed. This was a confidence booster for FAIT LE JOJO after recent runs in much stronger company.
Race 2 was a handicap hurdle over three miles one and a half furlongs. They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing but it was particularly dangerous for the on-course bookies who priced up IT’S WALLACE at 10s. The horse was before today a five-time course winner but never beyond two and a half miles. The stamina doubt looked well placed. What wasn’t generally known was that IT’S WALLACE had won the Newmarket Town Plate over three and three quarter miles. Those who knew were able to make a killing as IT’S WALLACE made every yard and though showing signs of stopping after the last, was able to score by five lengths. MATERIAL WORLD ran a fine race in second. She looks a potential chaser and stays every yard of this trip. SUPREME PIPER was arguably disappointing finding little for pressure after the third-last and staying on at the one pace. He won a nothing race at Wincanton in the spring but has few miles on the clock and should improve with experience.
Race 3 was a novices’ handicap hurdle over two miles. Those who took the early 3s about LILLEBROR were laughing as the price collapsed to 5/4. I’ve seen these gambles on Barney Curley trained horses before and they don’t often go awry and this one never looked like going wrong. Paul Moloney was always sitting motionless on the gelding and only had to ask the slightest question to settle the issue after the third last. AMADEUS ran a fine race in second and time may tell he was unfortunate to come up against a well-handicapped rival. This was of course LILLEBROR’s first run in a handicap and he ran off 75. It came as no surprise to hear the announcement of a referral to Portman Square.
Race 4 was a novices’ hurdle over two miles five furlongs. With Castlemore absent, this looked a penalty kick for ENCOMPTEUR and so it proved with the gelding making all. His jumping wasn’t perfect by any means and I just wonder how much he had in hand of WITHOUT A DOUBT who was only three and a half lengths down at the line. WITHOUT A DOUBT had finished in mid-division in the Bumper at the Grand National meeting so was no mug. He jumped fluently and made the winner work for his success. I certainly think WITHOUT A DOUBT has the greater potential and I’m sure a career over fences beckons. The others were well beaten off though I thought FIVE COLOURS shaped with a little promise before getting tired on the final circuit.
Race 5 was a novices’ handicap chase over two miles and a furlong. ADJIRAM set out to make all but I know him from the Polytrack and he’s not the most resolute. After a bad blunder at the third, ACERTACK was soon jumping well and after the final ditch, swept past the tiring ADJIRAM to record a facile success. True, ACERTACK was getting 10 lbs from ADJIRAM so the form probably doesn’t amount to much.
Race 6 was a Bumper over two miles. MY NATIVE MISS was very fractious at the start and took no part. As usual, they went no pace for the first half of the race. BUBBA BOY looked very fit and well in the paddock and disputed the lead with OSCAR BILL and GOLDEN DUCK. Surprisingly, it was the latter that buckled first, finding little for pressure before staying on up the hill. BELUGA was also looking one paced and Timmy Murphy had to do very little to complete his treble as BUBBA BOY swept up the straight to record a 15-length success over OSCAR BILL. The winner has probably matured considerably since his promising debut at Exeter in the spring and I look forward to his hurdle debut.
Race 7 was a handicap chase over three and a quarter miles. Only five to choose from but there seemed little between them. Recent CD winner SUNDAY HABITS was, however, soon found wanting in this better grade and was beaten before the final circuit. JACQUEMART COLOMBRE led with SMARTY travelling well alongside and FRENCH EXECUTIVE waited with on the rail. Going down the far side on the final occasion, Ruby Walsh moved FRENCH EXECUTIVE into a challenging position and he readily went on turning for home, as JACQUEMART COLOMBRE was unable to quicken. SMARTY stayed on well and finished a respectable second, running, I thought, a good trial for either the Becher Chase or the Sussex National in the middle of November. FRENCH EXECUTIVE must also be a possible for the latter event having recorded his third CD win in five starts.
After the main card, the annual Charity Race was staged. Last year’s winner VANDENBERGHE had scored at Lingfield last Wednesday and I was anxious to have a bet. I could scarcely believe Ian Moss was going 9/4 (apparently 5/2 further down in Tatts). The bloke behind me had £100 on and by the time of the off, the general price was levels or even tips on. After an afternoon of favourites and the LILLEBROR gamble, this must have been the final nail in the coffin as VANDENBERGHE could be called the winner from some way out and came home unchallenged. In the battle of the sexes, the girls won by 15 points to 14 but I think Moorcroft were the winners on the day with a well-supported raffle.
Finally, it was great to see the 19-y-o MOORCROFT BOY, who was paraded between the fourth and fifth races. I’m back to Lingfield next week for a busy week of AW and a little NH.
The ground looked to be riding nearly perfect after the recent rains. A drying couple of days had clearly helped.
Race 1 was a claiming hurdle over two miles. On the figures, FAIT LE JOJO was entitled to win this and that’s what happened. Richard Johnson had the gelding jumping well in front and had main rivals KAPAROLO and BLUE STREAK beaten before the third last. MAJLIS chased home the winner, who was heavily eased on the run-in. Both FAIT LE JOJO and BLUE STREAK were subsequently claimed. This was a confidence booster for FAIT LE JOJO after recent runs in much stronger company.
Race 2 was a handicap hurdle over three miles one and a half furlongs. They say a little knowledge is a dangerous thing but it was particularly dangerous for the on-course bookies who priced up IT’S WALLACE at 10s. The horse was before today a five-time course winner but never beyond two and a half miles. The stamina doubt looked well placed. What wasn’t generally known was that IT’S WALLACE had won the Newmarket Town Plate over three and three quarter miles. Those who knew were able to make a killing as IT’S WALLACE made every yard and though showing signs of stopping after the last, was able to score by five lengths. MATERIAL WORLD ran a fine race in second. She looks a potential chaser and stays every yard of this trip. SUPREME PIPER was arguably disappointing finding little for pressure after the third-last and staying on at the one pace. He won a nothing race at Wincanton in the spring but has few miles on the clock and should improve with experience.
Race 3 was a novices’ handicap hurdle over two miles. Those who took the early 3s about LILLEBROR were laughing as the price collapsed to 5/4. I’ve seen these gambles on Barney Curley trained horses before and they don’t often go awry and this one never looked like going wrong. Paul Moloney was always sitting motionless on the gelding and only had to ask the slightest question to settle the issue after the third last. AMADEUS ran a fine race in second and time may tell he was unfortunate to come up against a well-handicapped rival. This was of course LILLEBROR’s first run in a handicap and he ran off 75. It came as no surprise to hear the announcement of a referral to Portman Square.
Race 4 was a novices’ hurdle over two miles five furlongs. With Castlemore absent, this looked a penalty kick for ENCOMPTEUR and so it proved with the gelding making all. His jumping wasn’t perfect by any means and I just wonder how much he had in hand of WITHOUT A DOUBT who was only three and a half lengths down at the line. WITHOUT A DOUBT had finished in mid-division in the Bumper at the Grand National meeting so was no mug. He jumped fluently and made the winner work for his success. I certainly think WITHOUT A DOUBT has the greater potential and I’m sure a career over fences beckons. The others were well beaten off though I thought FIVE COLOURS shaped with a little promise before getting tired on the final circuit.
Race 5 was a novices’ handicap chase over two miles and a furlong. ADJIRAM set out to make all but I know him from the Polytrack and he’s not the most resolute. After a bad blunder at the third, ACERTACK was soon jumping well and after the final ditch, swept past the tiring ADJIRAM to record a facile success. True, ACERTACK was getting 10 lbs from ADJIRAM so the form probably doesn’t amount to much.
Race 6 was a Bumper over two miles. MY NATIVE MISS was very fractious at the start and took no part. As usual, they went no pace for the first half of the race. BUBBA BOY looked very fit and well in the paddock and disputed the lead with OSCAR BILL and GOLDEN DUCK. Surprisingly, it was the latter that buckled first, finding little for pressure before staying on up the hill. BELUGA was also looking one paced and Timmy Murphy had to do very little to complete his treble as BUBBA BOY swept up the straight to record a 15-length success over OSCAR BILL. The winner has probably matured considerably since his promising debut at Exeter in the spring and I look forward to his hurdle debut.
Race 7 was a handicap chase over three and a quarter miles. Only five to choose from but there seemed little between them. Recent CD winner SUNDAY HABITS was, however, soon found wanting in this better grade and was beaten before the final circuit. JACQUEMART COLOMBRE led with SMARTY travelling well alongside and FRENCH EXECUTIVE waited with on the rail. Going down the far side on the final occasion, Ruby Walsh moved FRENCH EXECUTIVE into a challenging position and he readily went on turning for home, as JACQUEMART COLOMBRE was unable to quicken. SMARTY stayed on well and finished a respectable second, running, I thought, a good trial for either the Becher Chase or the Sussex National in the middle of November. FRENCH EXECUTIVE must also be a possible for the latter event having recorded his third CD win in five starts.
After the main card, the annual Charity Race was staged. Last year’s winner VANDENBERGHE had scored at Lingfield last Wednesday and I was anxious to have a bet. I could scarcely believe Ian Moss was going 9/4 (apparently 5/2 further down in Tatts). The bloke behind me had £100 on and by the time of the off, the general price was levels or even tips on. After an afternoon of favourites and the LILLEBROR gamble, this must have been the final nail in the coffin as VANDENBERGHE could be called the winner from some way out and came home unchallenged. In the battle of the sexes, the girls won by 15 points to 14 but I think Moorcroft were the winners on the day with a well-supported raffle.
Finally, it was great to see the 19-y-o MOORCROFT BOY, who was paraded between the fourth and fifth races. I’m back to Lingfield next week for a busy week of AW and a little NH.