PERTH, 11 June (Good to soft) 2m7f207yds (+92yds) 0-110 Handicap Hurdle (class 4)
On an afternoon which saw Gordon Elliott and Sean Bowen swat away most of what was put before them, second place behind their Mrs Paisley was always perhaps going to be the best outcome on offer for SEA PRINCE in this routine stayers’ hurdle. Mike Smith’s son of Great Pretender enjoyed the return to Scone Palace all the same, and all the more so a switch to assertive tactics that kept him interested for longer. Although a near-3l second here represents a vast improvement on all previous attempts at 3m in Irish points (4PPPP), he didn’t hit the line so strongly as to suppose this necessarily represents his optimum trip all of a sudden, whereas it takes little to imagine him holding on if a similar strategy to today’s is deployed back at 2m4f next time.
SOUTHWELL, 12 June (Good) 3m60yds (+257yds) 0-100 Handicap Chase (class 5)
Only four were still meaningfully involved on the turn for home in this low-grade stayers’ handicap but they still managed to get in each other’s way somewhat from that point on, with MISTER MEAD, far from done with at the time, the chief sufferer when left short of room and unseating two out. It had been a highly encouraging chasing bow up to that point for Alexandra Dunn’s Malinas homebred, whose dam Double Mead had been booted to victory in all bar two of her 19 point-to-point/ hunter chase wins by Dunn herself. Less able to stand his racing thus far than his younger sibling Toad Of Toad Hall, twice already a Fontwell 3m2f chase winner for the same connections, he is at the right end of the weights to pick up a few bottom drawer summer 3m handicaps if able to keep sounder longer from here on.
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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CAL'S UP TO TOP SPEED
John Anthony keeps close watch on the top ranking track fliers
ACTION REPLAY
Graham Buddry recalls the exploits of legendary hurdler Large Action
SHADOW IN THE LIMELIGHT
lan Heitman follows the fortunes of next year’s leading Classic prospects
GONE WILDE
Rolf Johnson fears the effects of a thoroughbred market bubble’
DIGGING OUT THE JUMPERS
The former Sky Racing frontman is all geared up for the change of codes and clothing
MORE AMO FOR RALPH
Dave Youngman shares the joy and gossip from the Newmarket gallops
GO COSMIC NEXT YEAR
Andy Ayres shares his pick of punting prospects from the autumn action
NICO'S CAREER LEAP TO GLORY
Nick Townsend talks to Nico de Boinville about his life-changing choices
ALL SET FOR FRESH START
Karl Hedley is on the spot for the new season action across Ireland
DAN'S GRAND BID DAWNING
Paul Ferguson tracks a route for Skeltons from Carlisle to Aintree