Saturday 3 November 2018

Wetherby - November 3

A slew of non-runners made Charlie Hall Chase day lacking any sort of depth, robbing racegoers of quality horses, however the action was thrilling with some decent finishes. However, it's purely early season form and not much of it should be taken forward.

Fingerontheswitch looked on really good terms with himself and the contraction in price came as no surprise considering his shrunken handicap mark, and the opening race worked out perfectly as he needs something to aim at.

He got just that with the improved The Paddy Pie moving on from the second last, only to curl up on the run-in. I'm sure it was only greenness from the runner-up and he looks sure to remain competitive from a higher mark on a softer surface.

The Happy Chappy is a good ground horse but he wants a really stiff test and was never travelling. He looked short of match practice but plugged on, and he has a race in him with the emphasis on stamina.

Thistle Do Nicely had a fair impression on hurdles debut last time out and he looked the part before a weak looking novice hurdle, a good athletic type sure to take higher rank.

Beach Break looked disinterested in the prelims and has earned a lengthy holiday, he's a summer horse but isn't much more than a 120 type. Lough Legend is a baby and saw plenty of daylight here; I can see him picking up a novice handicap on soft ground in the coming months.

Stablemate Absolutely Dylan will leave his 110 rating behind in the next few weeks but this anxious sort needs softer ground than this. I thought his jumping was once again slick bar one error, and money lost here was only lent.

Copper West is a disappointing type and he seemed to have every chance once more, he lacks scope and loses ground at the obstacles. Nightly had the form in the book if he got home and he was well ridden by J Burke and just lasted.

Tayzar took the eye, strong and fitter for Carlisle, and settled nicely before being brought to a standstill. We learned nothing here but he's worth keeping an eye on.

Lady Buttons is a fantastic big mare and she was a big price to land the Listed hurdle on account of the ground, despite her trainer insisting she bounces off good.

Irish Roe looked on great terms with herself but her small-time handler probably didn't have her cherry ripe, even though she looked pretty straight.

The big move for Oscar Rose was a little baffling - yes she was going to set them a merry dance but the form just wasn't in the book and she's more a three miler in waiting.

The big race saw Black Corton go off a short price, he looked fantastic in his coat but that wasn't enough reason to be taking 6/4 and Definitly Red was the value, having a great record fresh and at this venue.

D Cook was seen to great effect from the front once again and had a very willing partner.

The Yorkshire Hurdle was Grade 2 in name only and it saw the surprisingly improved Nautical Nitwit reverse placings with recent conqueror Monbeg Theatre, holding off Old Guard who stayed better than most thought he would.

Keeper Hill has a robust look of a chaser and didn't have the toe to go with them in the straight, and he looks a proper soft ground horse to me.

Three went to post in the finale, two saddled by man of the moment P Kirby, and Wemyss Point made it two wins at the track on ground probably quicker than ideal.

Supakalanistic looked a big staying chase type that would probably come on for the run, while Zig Zag hasn't really gone on and may be better over the minimum.

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