Friday, December 28, 2012

A chance in the Challow

Quick post on Newbury's card tomorrow where the feature Challow Hurdle is due off at 2.45, provided the rains stay away, of course.

Six declared with the two four-year-olds in the field, Donald McCain's Clondaw Kaempfer and Paul Nicholls' Easter Day, joint top-rated on 140. Jonjo O'Neill's three entries in this race over the past decade have all obliged - Coolnagorna (4/6f in 2002), Wichita Lineman (11/4 in 2006) and Backspin (5/1 in 2010); this year he saddles Taquin Du Seuil who has won two of his three outings this term, the defeat coming behind My Tent Or Yours (goes in the finale at 3.50) at the beginning of November.

Since 2002 four-year-olds have taken just two renewals (Souffleur in 2007 and Reve De Sivola in 2009); favourites have won five runnings. Taquin Du Seuil is the selection.

Cue Card won last year's running of the 1.35 - Tenor Nivernais represents a play against likely favourite Colour Squadron who has his first run over fences on this his seasonal bow.

In the finale Fix It Right ran well for a long way behind The Italian Yob at Exeter earlier in the month and looks to hold place prospects on this more forgiving track.

1 comment:

GeeDee said...

Plenty of money for Taquin Du Seuil (13/8f) and the market called it right as Clondaw Kaempfer (2/1) ran a strange race. Jason Maguire was low in the saddle on Donald McCain's charge round the far turn and the jockey pulled the gelding up before two out after an awkward jump at the third last. Later in commentary Simon Holt reported both trainer and jockey had looked very puzzled by this effort.

A lively novice chase saw Module (7/2) beat Colour Squadron (2/1 2nd fav) six lengths - McCoy's saddle slipped on Colour Squadron but later the champion commented he didn't feel it hadn't affected the final placings. Tenor Nivernais (5/1) finished fourth of the five, beating just 7/4 favourite Bury Parade on the line.

Fix It Right (12/1), keen, raced to the fore but weakened two out to come home well-beaten in seventh. A surprise nonetheless with My Tent Or Yours (4/11f) having no answer to stablemate Chatterbox (5/1) who readily went on to assert between the last two coming home four and a half lengths to the good. That looks a decent effort for a four-year-old in receipt of five pounds.