Weekend Review

Not for the first time, Gordon Elliott dominated the two days meeting at Down Royal with 8 winners from 23 runners, including Top 40 entry Classical Creek in the bumper which rounded off the fixture. The former pointer was forced to make his own running and, once engaging top gear inside the final quarter of a mile, he was firmly in control. His next run, which is likely to be in Pattern company - possibly at Navan before Christmas - will tell us more but the Walk In The Park gelding appears to have a bright future. 

Jonjo and AJ O'Neill have amassed a decent team of novice hurdlers this term. Ex-pointer Roadlesstravelled defied a penalty when following up his Market Rasen win at Wetherby on Saturday (only 16 days turnaround), while stablemate Bill Joyce looked a useful recruit when scoring cosily by three and a half lengths at Carlisle on Sunday. The Mahler gelding won bumpers at Warwick and Exeter before being sent off a 7/1 chance for the Cheltenham Festival bumper. The Jackdaws Castle outfit won the same novices' hurdle at the Cumbrian track twelve month earlier with the high-class Johnny Who and this five year old looks capable of defying his penalty. Incidentally, the horse featured on page 26 of One Jump Ahead is likely to be entered for his hurdles bow at Aintree on Saturday (9th November).

The other novice hurdler who impressed was Saracen Beau (12/1) who strode clear after the second last to win by nine lengths at Ayr on Saturday. The tall, grey gelding had shaped with plenty of promise in a bumper at the same venue in March and confirmed it here on his reappearance. Given a typically patient ride by Sean Quinlan, the five year old crept into contention and it was soon evident Nicky Richards' charge was going to take some stopping soon after the penultimate obstacle. Pulling away on the run-in, his trainer suggested afterwards he will be even better over further in due course. There are more races to be won with him over timber but he is a smashing prospect for fences this time next year. The Greystoke team have started well and, provided we get some rain in the coming weeks, expect more of the same throughout November and December.

I must confess the Breeders Cup fails to set the pulse racing in these quarters - give me the Charlie Hall Chase anyday of the week - but I was following the Flat racing on Saturday evening. More specifically, Southwell. Sardinian Warrior has served the Top 40 in Ahead On The Flat proud in 2024 winning three out of three, with all three victories over a mile at the Nottinghamshire track. The Saxon Warrior colt was making his handicap debut off a mark of 97 but it didn't prevent him from demolishing five rivals by upwards of four lengths under Kieran Shoemark. Making all, the John & Thady Gosden trained three year old was in control from the outset and is set to tackle Pattern company next term.