A day of near misses

The second day of the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham was decimated with 29 non runners due to the frost overnight, which ensured the track couldn't be watered, and the prevailing dry weather. However, it didn't prevent Meetmebythesea adding the feature event, the Paddy Power Gold Cup, to his growing CV. Successful in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase at the Festival in March, Ben Pauling's rising star defied a twelve pounds to rise and got the better of Blueking D'Oroux on the run-in to prevail by two and a half lengths. Prominent from the outset, he held every chance off the hometurn but looked in trouble between the final two fences. Crucially, the runner-up, who was having his first run for Dan Skelton, made a mistake at the final fence and handed the initiative to Harry Cobden's mount. The six year old was providing his owner J.P.McManus with his first win the prestigious event and he is now likely to be given an entry in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day.

Elsewhere, Atomic City was a cosy winner of the Grade 2 Prestbury Juvenile Hurdle under J.J.Slevin. Rated 88 on the Flat, Joseph O'Brien's runner had won snugly at Cork on his jumping bow last month and showed improved form here. Confidently ridden, he was too quick for Charles Darnay after the last winning by four lengths. Ante-post favourite for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle beforehand, it will be interesting to see how he fares against the French recruits which Willie Mullins has bought and then a decision is likely to be made regarding his main target at the Festival in the spring. One would imagine he will line up in the Grade 2 juvenile at Leopardstown on Boxing Day. That will tell us plenty. Charles Darnay is a decent juvenile but not a top notcher. One could envisage him returning to Prestbury Park for the juvenile hurdle at their December meeting (12th December) or perhaps aimed at the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow (28th December). 

Frustrutating is probably the best word to described the day as far as the November Update is concerned. July Flower (advised @ 8/1) and Blueking D'Oroux were selected in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. The former was withdrawn due to the ground shortly before lunctime, while the latter looked like winning approaching the last fence until getting in too tight. Indeed, his jumping arguably proved his achilles heal - he made a mistake at the second down the backstraight and the error at the last losing his momentum probably cost him victory.  

Hillberry Hill (advised @ 7/1) ran very well in the intermediate handicap hurdle finishing second behind Irish raider Sunny South West. Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls' runner jumped particularly welll and was positively ridden by Tom Bellamy. Still in front rounding the home turn, I thought he would take some catching but couldn't repel the winner after the last. It was a good run by an improving young horse. He has a bright future, especially when jumping fences next season.

Then, to provide the icing on the cake, Soleretta finished third in the Listed mares' bumper - all three selections looked like winning on the homebend. Dan Skelton's former pointer quickened up to challenge the favourite Elegantemente but couldn't get passed Henry De Bromhead's winner before tiring late on. It was a solid run and she will make a useful jumper in time but not quite good enough on the day.

Fingers crossed for a change of fortune with the selections on Sunday - there is some rain forecast and the clerk of the course has indicated they will water after racing on Saturday. It will be interesting to see how the surface responds to both.