Sunday, 15 December 2013

Carlisle - A test in the December mud



CARLISLE – Sunday December 15th

Going : Hurdles  - Soft 
Chases: - Heavy (Soft in places)
Inner hurdles track in use.
First fence away from the stands omitted.
A typical Carlisle winter test in searching conditions.

12.15 2m 1f Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4)

The only two with any presentable form had this between them. Previous winner VICE ET VERTU chased the leader and took over approaching two out after which he was in no trouble.  The winner wasn’t tested here, but might prove quite decent.
DARK DUNE made a race of it, setting a decent pace and finishing clear of the other four who didn’t show anything of immediate encouragement.

12.45 2m 4f Handicap Chase (69-103)

ETXALAR does stay well but any distance around here seems to suit. He set the pace jumping extravagantly at times and found more once challenged from three out. He’s well suited by giving weights to inferiors.
INDIAN VOYAGE progressed to dispute past halfway. He briefly led before the last but found the winner outstaying him from that point. This was a decent effort in the conditions.
TRESOR DE L’ISLE was outpaced from three out and hasn’t run up to his Ayr winning form on his latest two runs.
FRED BOJANGALS struggled as age appears to be catching up with him.
LUKEY LUKE had made progress into third and wasn’t totally out of it when falling three out.
SOUL ANGEL race prominently but made mistakes and dropped away from four out .
Veteran PANTHERS RUN’s best from has come at Hexham and he was well beaten by four out.

1.20 3m 1f Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Qualifier) (120-147)

KAKI DE LA PREE stayed on well from two out and took control on the run-in.  He won a maiden hurdle last time and looks a nice progressive sort that could be in the picture for the final of this event.
PINEAU DE RE looked the winner approaching the last but didn’t find very much when asked on the  flat.
TRUSTAN TIMES was left behind from two out and seems plenty high enough in the weights.
OUR JOEY set the pace for much of the way but struggled from two out.
LIE FORRIT was under the pump before the straight and struggled from then on. I suspect he wants a flatter track these days.

1.55 2m 5f Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (127-133)
KNOCK A HAND was given an aggressive ride by Richard Johnson, driven into many of his fences, jumping well and pulling clear from two out for a first chasing win. He’s entered for the Welsh National and is a stayer over hurdles.
AVOCA PROMISE was settled second, got a bit outpaced four out, stuck on after that but never got to the winner.
JET MASTER made smooth progress before four out, but flattened out approaching two out and was held from there.

2.25 2m 3f 110yds Novices’ Hurdle (Class 4)

OSCARS DEN recorded a second win in two runs over hurdles. However it proved quite hard work as didn’t jump at all well, though he did get the last right and led after which he had to be driven out to hold the gap. He needs to sharpen his jumping to make a mark against better opposition.
SEALOUS SCOUT stayed on under pressure from two out but couldn’t impact on the winner from two out. This was an improvement on his first hurdles effort.
JUST CAMERON set the pace until the last but emptied on the run-in.

2.55 3m 2f Handicap Chase (103-118)

WAYWARD GLANCE took control when his nearest rival Emma Soda gave four out a thump. The others couldn’t get to him after that and he won in decent style.
EMMA SODA had every chance when her bad error four out left her with too much to do. She stuck on after the winner but had no chance of getting to him. If she can be kept fit she can pick up a staying chase in the south in testing conditions.
THE FRIARY was driven along for the second half of the race and was never better placed than his finishing third place.
FIDDLERS REEL was left behind from four out and ran to about the form of her previous run over course and distance.
PAPAMOA went a good deal more easily than he normally does and led for much of the way until five out. He was pulled up after four out and reported lame on his near fore leg.

3.25 2m 1f NH Flat Race (Class 6)

This probably wasn’t the strongest contest and was there for the taking by Donald McCain who weighs up his placing of horses in bumpers very well. STONEBROOK travelled well and picked up the pace best of all in the final two furlongs and will carry a double penalty if trying for a third bumper win.
HAIL THE BRAVE half-brother to a four times chase winner, stuck to his task well enough having had every chance two out. He showed enough here to suggest he’ll have pace enough to win jumps rasces.
The one to take out of this for me is Irish point winner THE ORANGE ROGUE who made or shared the pace for much of the trip. He couldn’t hold the first two once the pass picked up, but he stuck to his task encouragingly enough and will benefit from the stiffer tests that jumping will provide.






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