Timeking's Leading Hunters and Pointers 2004-05| Timeking's Leading Hunters and Pointers 2004-05 |
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| Horse | Rtg | Dst | Going | Comment |
| The ratings below have been amended to not include rider's claims where applicable. This is to ensure parity with Point to Points and Championship races. Therefore mounts ridden by Derek O'Connor , for example, who no longer claims, are usually better off in such races. | ||||
| SLEEPING NIGHT (FR) | 140 + | L | gd/hvy | Easy winner by a wide margin, from Legal Right, Hunter Chase at Wetherby Feb 25. Failed to qualify for Cheltenham by unseating at Wincanton, Feb 11. Its low jumping would be a worry for the Cheltenham Foxhunters but has time to improve. Very easy winner of hunters at Fakenham, Feb 18. Winner, always travelling well and jumped ok, of the Christie's Foxhunters at Cheltenham, Mar 18, from Foly Pleasant and Placid Man. Improved on Cheltenham winning effort by 7lb when a clear cut winner of a 25f handicap under Ruby Walsh at Aintree, April 8. Will be clobbered by the handicapper for this. |
| FOLY PLEASANT (FR) | 139 | L | gd/hvy | Winner of a Mens Open at Weston, Jan 30. Improved but easily outpaced by Silence Reigns at Bangor, Feb 11. Back to something like its best when gallantly chasing home Sleeping Night under an excellent ride in the Foxhunters at Cheltenham, Mar 18. Never in contention before departing at the 20th fence in the National. |
| PLACID MAN (IRE) | 130 + | ML | gd/hvy | Easy winner of a Ladies Open at Higham, Jan 9. Excellent third in the Cheltenham Foxhunters run at a good pace, Mar 18. Jumping left room for improvement. |
| MONTIFAULT (FR) | 129 | L | gfm/gd | Easy winner by nearly a furlong, of a Hunters at Ludlow, Feb 9. It was jumping and travelling well throughout. Seems an ideal horse for the Aintree Foxhunters. Got stuck in the mud at Warwick, Feb 25. Reported to have a breathing problem post race. For me it is just a better horse on decent ground. Ran a brave race to be third in the Aintree Foxhunters but the slow ground was against and it faded before the last. |
| SILENCE REIGNS | 126 | M | gfm/gsf | Easy winner of 2½ mile Hunters at Bangor, Feb 11, from formerly very useful Foly Pleasant. Suspect stamina exposed on testing ground in handicap at Uttoxeter, Feb 19. Ran with great credit but did not stay in 3m Hunters at Newbury, Mar 4. Has the class to win a slowly run 3m contest but best option seems the Aintree Foxhunters if the ground is is decent. Would not want to lead until close home though. Soon beaten when making mistakes four out and three out in a 19½f hunters at Exeter, Mar 30. The ground was much slower than any decent time it has ever put up. Easy winner of a hunters at Stratford, May 20. |
| GENERAL MONTCALM (IRE) | 123 + | L | gd/hvy | Easy winner of strongly run hunters at Fairyhouse, Feb 19. Pulled up, never in contention, in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, Mar 18. In a race it should have won it jumped poorly, finishing last of nine finishers at Fairyhouse, Mar 29. Back to near its best when winning at Punchestown, April 27. Thanks to a most determined ride from Mr "Slippers" Madden. The event being the Cox's Cash & Carry Champion Hunters where it collared Industrious close home with Whyso Mayo a respectable third. |
| WHYSO MAYO (IRE) | 123 + | L | gsf/hvy | Wide margin winner of Open from The Wipper at Aghabullogue, Jan 9. Narrow winner of Open from Arctic Times, Lismore, Feb 27. Would have won a maiden hunters at Cork but for making a mistake at the last, when just beaten by Charlie Lenihan at Cork, Mar 28. Back on the winning trail when coming from behind to win a maiden hunters at Gowran, April 6. A respectable third behind General Montcalm at Punchestown April 27. |
| LORD ATTERBURY (IRE) | 122 = | LE | gd/gsf | Made seasonal debut in the Cheltenham Foxhunters. Jumping not perfect but was in contention until the final bend. Eventually finishing a respectable fourth. Sure to improve for the run. |
| KATARINO (FR) | 122 + | ML | gsf/sft | Comf winner of Mixed Open at Didmarton, Mar 5. Comf winner from the staying on Caught At Dawn of the John Smith's Fox Hunters over the National fences at Aintree, April 7. |
| NEVER COMPROMISE (IRE) | 119 | L | gsf/hvy | Easy winner, made a lot of the running, of a Hunter Chase at Thurles, Jan 27, from Notabadskin 94 and Just Cassandra. Ms Katie Walsh give the winner a good ride. Her mount's reaction to being patted on the neck on passing the line, suggests it thoroughly enjoyed the race, despite the fairly testing ground. May not have recovered from Thurles run or may have hated the even more testing ground, when only second to Lord Of The Turf at Leopardstown, Feb 6. Winning time 26 seconds slower than when winning this prize last season. Jumped poorly Fairyhouse, Feb 19. Would probably enjoy a rest until the ground dries up. Fell 13th in the Aintree Foxhunters. Still below par but not disgraced |
| MOOR LANE | 116 | L | gd/hvy | Finished second to Kerstino Two in a Mens Open at Tweseldown, Feb 6. Stayed on after being outpaced behind Ballinova 92+, Huntingdon, Feb 24. Comf winner, always travelling and jumping well, of a hunters from Indien Du Boulay 90, Sandown, Mar 11. Only fifth against useful rivals in a slowly run contest at Bangor, April 16. |
| LORD OF THE TURF (IRE) | 116 | L | gd/hvy | Winner strongly run Open from Western View at Ballingarry, Oct 10. Following up with a further two victories in more sedately run Opens at Templemore, Oct 24 and Kilfeacle, Jan 16. Comf winner of a slowly run Hunters at Leopardstown, Feb 6, from a below par Never Compromise. Never in contention in a hotly contested Foxhunters at Cheltenham, Mar 18. There will be easier races. Probably beaten when falling three out in a hunter chase at Gowran, April 6. Still in contention when falling six out at Punchestown, April 27. Would have needed a season's best though to have won. |
| FREE GIFT | 115 + | ML | gd | Winner of a Mens Open from Coolefind at Larkhill, Jan 29. Beaten 6l by Paddy For Paddy at Folkestone, Feb 2 on good to soft. Better on fast ground. Outclassed and not jump well in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, Mar 18. Overnight watering would not have helped either. |
| GATSBY (IRE) | 115 | LE | gd/gsf | Never threatened to get into contention but did stay on well late for a respectable fifth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, Mar 18. On this showing would do well when tackling 4m. Tackling the Aintree Foxhunters over 21.5f was probably not the right option. It unseated at the eighth. A disappointing third at Bangor, April 16 behind Ask The Natives. |
| CAUGHT AT DAWN (IRE) | 115 | ML | gsf/sft | Done for toe by Yeoman Sailor in a strongly run hunters at Hereford, April 7. Stayed on well for pressure when chasing home useful Katarino in the Aintree Foxhunters , April 7. Shows a clear preference for give underfoot. Still in contention when making an awful mistake five out in the Intrum Justitia Cup at Stratford, May 21. |
| YEOMAN SAILOR (IRE) | 114 | L | gd/sft | Winner (I suspect this was easy) in a decent time of a Club Members race at High Easter, Feb 13. Comf winner always travelling well of a hunters from Caught At Dawn at Hereford, Mar 7. Good training performance back to its best. Just done for toe by Ask The Natives in a slowly run hunters at Bangor, April 16. Basically set the race up for the winner, Mrs Be, when second in the Intrum Justitia Cup at Stratford, May 21. The trip of 3m 4f may have been too far on what was rain softened ground. |
| THE WIPPER (IRE) | 114 | ML | gd/hvy | Front runner. Decisive winner of an Open at Longford, Dec 5. Winner of an ordinary Ladies Open at Ballon, Jan 30. Winner of a Ladies Open at Wexford, Feb 13. Wide margin winner of an Open, Lemonfield, Mar 6. Set up a fast race for the Cheltenham Foxhunters when making the running until nearly four out. Likely to have finished fifth or sixth had it stood up. Below its best in Hunters at Gowran, April 6. |
| OSCAR INDIA (IRE) | 113 + | ML | gd/sft | Wide margin winner Maiden Wexford, Oct 31. Decisive victor of a Winner of Two from Van Ness at Lingstown, Nov 28. |
| EMPEROR ROSS (IRE) | 113 | M | gfm/gsf | Comf winner of the 20.5f Ubique Hunters at Sandown, Feb 17. Came from well off the pace to mow down Satchmo who had been involved in a mid-race battle. Best times at around 2½ miles. Given a poorly judged ride when finishing full of running to come fourth, beaten only 2 lengths, in a 2m 6½f hunters at Newbury, April 1. Easy over 3 miles at Kelso, May 18. Clock suggests best trip is around 20f. |
| INDUSTRIOUS | 113 | L | gd/gsf | Winner of a maiden point at The Pigeons, Mar 6. Stepped up greatly on its rules debut when almost capturing the prestigious Champion Hunters at the Punchestown Festival, April 27. In that race was always to the fore. It fought off a prolonged challenge from Whyso Mayo only to be caught close home by General Montcalm. Being only a six year old, this horse could find more improvement. It is a half brother to See More Business. |
| BEWLEYS BEST (IRE) | 112 + | L | gsf/hvy | Clear winner of an Open at Tinahely, Jan 16 from Nick Junior 99. Winner of another Tinahely Open on Feb 20 from Native Rainbow 97. Below par second to Nick Junior at Bennettsbridge, Feb 27. Winner slw 3m hunters Wexford, Mar 17. |
| MISTER FRIDAY (IRE) | 111 + | LE | gfm/gsf | Reportedly had a breathing problem when pulled up at Wetherby in early February. No sign of a problem when a comf winner of a mixed open at Charm Park a month later. Put up a career best rating when easily winning a hunters at Market Rasen, April 3. Followed up at Cheltenham, April 14. |
| EARTHMOVER (IRE) | 110 | LE | gd/hvy | Winner of a slow hunters at Fontwell, Feb 20. Contested the Cheltenham Foxhunters which was a much stronger contest than when winning in 2004. As a fourteen year old was not disgraced in finishing sixth. Below that level when only third to Mister Friday back at Cheltenham, April 14. |
| SHACKLETON (IRE) | 109 + | L | sft/hvy | Winner of a hot confined from Ikdam Melody at Brocklesby, Feb 26. Useful hunter on its day, career has been blighted by bursting blood vessels. Suited by give. |
| BACK ON TOP (IRE) | 109 + | ML | gd/hvy | Winner of Opens at Dromahane, Nov 14 and Boulta Nov 28. Picked up another with a wide margin success in decent time at Tallow, Feb 6. |
| GUNGADU (IRE) | 109 + | L | gsf/hvy | Wide margin victor of a Winner of One at Dungarvan, Jan 23. Just scraped home in a fairly run Winner of Two against a probably better than average rival in River Ripples, 82+, Kildorrery, Feb 20. |
| COBRECES | 109 | ML | gd/hvy | Winner, lead near finish, to beat An Capall Dubh in a slowly run hunters at Ludlow, Mar 3. Comf winner in a good time of a hunters from Swincombe at Leicester, Mar 11. Comf winner, left in the lead by the fall of Honest Yer Honour four out, of a hunters at Ludlow, Mar 24. Did not jump well over the Aintree fences in the Fox Hunters. Beaten when unseating at the fifthteenth, April 7. |
| IKDAM MELODY (IRE) | 109 | L | sft/hvy | Beaten by a very useful rival in Shackleton on British debut at Brocklesby, Feb 26. May not have recovered when only fifth a week later at Charm Park, Mar 6. Done for toe on good ground, Kelso, April 11. Had ideal conditions (give) at Stratford in a ladies hunters at Stratford, May 21 but fluffed the opportunity when unseating at the 7th. Once again conditions were ideal a few days later on May 25 at Cartmel. The horse looked like winning coming out of the final bend into the straight. However Mr G Brewer on Victoria's Boy 87 was in no mood for surrender and drove the horse to get back up almost on the line to collect the first prize. |
| RED BROOK LAD | 108 + | ML | fm/gd | Finished third, conceding 10lb to first two, Emperor Ross and Satchmo in the Ubique at Sandown, Feb 17. Winner slow hunters on ground that would have been slow enough at Wincanton, Mar 10. Come from behind winner of a hunters from Silver Castle at Newbury, April 1. |
| FIRST DOWN JETS (IRE) | 107 + | L | gd/sft | Picked up up a Hunters at Fairyhouse, Mar 29. Stepped up on previous times with a creditable fourth at Punchestown, April 27 in what a hot contest. |
| CHARLIE LENIHAN (IRE) | 107 + | L | gsf/hvy | Successful in a Winner of One at Killaloe, Feb 20, from Jamies Choice 99. Game winner of a Maiden Hunters at Cork from Whyso Mayo at Cork, Mar 28. Was fortunate to win as that rival lost the race with a mistake at the last. Nevertheless another useful performance from an improver on testing ground. |
| GUN'N ROSES II (FR) | 106 | M | gsf/hvy | Made all to win the Walrus Hunters at Haydock, Feb 24. Slower rating than last year's win in the race. Aintree Foxhunters next have 130 pencilled in if the going is soft there. Never going well from the start in the Aintree Foxhunters, unseating at the seventh.May have taken a dislike to the Aintree fences, also probable that it has declined since last season. |
| COOLEFIND (IRE) | 105 + | L | gd | Chased home Free Gift in a strongly run Mens Open at Larkhill, Jan 29. |
| SOME LEGEND (IRE) | 105 + | M | gsf/sft | Winner from Sir Frederick of a 4yo Maiden at Boulta, Nov 28. |
| MONTY'S QUEST (IRE) | 105 | L | gd/gfm | Wide margin winner of hunters at Kels, April 11. |
| SATCHMO (IRE) | 104 | M | gfm/gsf | Winner of a Mens at Higham, Jan 30. Did well to finish second behind comf winner Emperor Ross at Sandown, Feb 17. After getting involved in a battle up front with Perange mid-race. Easy winner, leading before halfway, of a modest 21f hunters at Folkestone, May 18. |
| ASK THE NATIVES (IRE) | 103 + | ML | gd/hvy | Easy winner of decent hunters at Warwick, Mar 13. Capable of more. Beat Yeoman Sailor in a slow ly run contest at Bangor, April 16. Well beaten when falling two out at Stratford, May 21. |
| BOTHAR NA (IRE) | 103 + | ML | gfm/gsf | Game winner Hunter Chase at Kilbeggan from Wanganui 89 and Glenduff Bridge, May 23. At six promises to carry on improving. |
| SIR FREDERICK (IRE) | 103 + | L | ggd/gsf | Second behind Some Legend in a 4yo Maiden at Boulta, Nov 28. Clear winner of a 5yo Maiden at Carrigtwohill, Jan 30. Finished a respectable fourth in a Pointers bumper at Gowran Park, April 6. |
| COUNTY DERRY | 103 | LE | gd/hvy | Winner of Mens at Black Forest Lodge, Jan 23. Outpaced slow Hunters won by Earthmover at Fontwell, Feb 20. Winner of a 4m Mixed Open run at a reasonable pace, Larkhill, Mar 6. Never in contention in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, Mar 18. |
| GOLA CHER (IRE) | 103 | LE | gd/hvy | Winner of a Confined from Scotmail Lad and Noel's Pride at Market Rasen (PTP), Jan 30. Disappointing in Brocklesby confined, Feb 26 but had a difficult task in any case conceding weight to very useful Shackleton. |
| TANAGER | 103 | L | gd/gsf | Winner of a slowish 4m Mens Open at Dunthrop, Jan 23. Never in the Hunt at Huntingdon, Feb 10. Stayed on late in a hot contest over too short a trip at Sandown, Feb 17. Stayed on when headed to beat non staying Silence Reigns in a Hunters at Newbury. Contrary to my original comment was a total no hoper in a strongly run Cheltenham Foxhunters. Did not jump well enough and was outclassed in any case. A moderate fourth behind Mister Friday at Cheltenham, April 14. |
| OUT IN FRONT (IRE) | 102 + | L | sft/hvy | Wide margin winner of a 6y Maiden point Wexford, Feb 13. |
| POLAR CHAMP | 102 + | L | gd/gsf | Wide margin winner of Mens Open at Wadebridge, Feb 5. Winner of a slow three runner contest at Black Forest Lodge, Feb 26. Easy winner of an ordinary Hunt Members race at Ottery St Mary, Mar 5. Never in contention in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, Mar 18. |
| DENVALE (IRE) | 102 + | L | gd/sft | Comf winner of a decent hunters at Towcester, Mar 27. May be slightly flattered as it probably raced on better ground when taking the outside course up the Towcester hill. Soundly beaten in a useful contest at Cheltenham, April 14. |
| SIR D'ORTON (FR) | 102 | L | gd/sft | Has never looked the greatest of battlers but kept on well for Charlotte Tizzard when winning a hunters at Taunton, April 7, from Galapiat Du Mesnil 96. |
| WESTERN VIEW (IRE) | 102 | L | gsf/sft | 2nd in an Open behind Lord Of The Turf at Ballingarry, Oct 10. Winner of slowly run Opens at Ballon, Jan 30 and at Naul Feb 6. |
| PADDY FOR PADDY (IRE) | 101 + | L | gd/hvy | Beat a below par Free Gift to win a hunters at Folkestone, Feb 15. No match for Denvale at Towcester, Mar 27. |
| HONEST YER HONOUR (IRE) | 101 + | ML | gd/sft | Clear winner of a Mens Open at Cottenham, Jan 23. Pulled up rather than being knocked about on ground that was probably stretching its stamina at Huntingdon, Feb 24. Likely to bounce back on better ground or step down to 2½ miles on soft ground. Frustratingly it fell four out at Ludlow,Mar 24. Still in the lead, too early to gauge whether it would have stayed the three miles on the good to soft ground. |
| KERSTINO TWO | 101 + | L | gd | Winner of Mens Opens at Barbury Castle, Jan 15 and Tweseldown, Feb 6. Unseated rider 3rd at Taunton, Mar 3. Pulled up on soft ground at Exeter, Mar 22. |
| BALLYFIN (IRE) | 101 + | L | gd/hvy | Winner of Opens at Loughanmore, Oct 16, and Maralin twice, Oct 30 and Nov 13. Fell two out, looked held, in fair hunters won by Swiftway 93, at Musselburgh, Feb 16. May have been a little rusty, though early jumping suggested that good to firm ground may have been too lively. Winner of a slow 20f hunters on testing ground at Down Royal, Mar 17. |
| PHELANS FANCY (IRE) | 101 | ML | gd/sft | Very easy winner of maiden hunters at Downpatrick, Mar 12. Down the field in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, Mar 18. May have come too soon after Downpatrick. On form shown so far could only have finished seventh at best in any case. Never showed in testing ground hunters at Gowran, April 6. |
| GLENDUFF BRIDGE (IRE) | 100 + | L | gd/gsf | Just outbattled when a very close third in a hunters at Kilbeggan behind improver Bothar Na, May 23. |
| DUNSTON BILL | 100 + | M | sft | Wide margin winner of Club Members at Thorpe Lodge, Feb 6. Followed up with a wide margin win of a Mixed Open at Mollington, Feb 27. Usually front runs. |
| SWINCOMBE (IRE) | 100 + | L | gfm/sft | Chased home An Capall Dubh in a Mens at Horseheath Feb 5. Wide margin winner of a Mens at Marks Tey, Feb 20. |
| NEWS ITEM (IRE) | 100 + | LE | gsf/hvy | Wide margin winner of a Hunter Chase at Down Royal, Dec 27. Moderate fourth behind Bewleys Best in an Open at Tinahely, Jan 16. May not have recovered from Down Royal. |
| BE MY DREAM (IRE) | 100 | L | gd/hvy | Winner of a Confined at Whitwick Manor, Feb 20, from Merry Path 97. Not disgraced behind Denvale at Towcester, Mar 27. |
| ARCTIC TIMES (IRE) | 100 | L | gsf/hvy | Close second to Whyso Mayo, Lismore, Feb 27. |
| THE BUTTERWICK KID | 100 | M | gsf/hvy | Unfortunately disqualified for taking wrong course when winning a hunters at Newcastle, heavy, Feb 15. It gained no advantage and actually ran further. Respectable second behind very useful Gun'N Roses II at Haydock, Feb 24. |
| AN CAPALL DUBH (IRE) | 100 | L | gfm/gsf | Winner Mens Open at Horseheath, Feb 5 from Swincombe. Done for toe when beaten by formerly very useful Cobreces in slow hunters at Ludlow, Mar 3. A respectable fifth in the Aintree Foxhunters, April 7. Not jump well but kept on for second in a slowly run hunters at Ludlow , April 24. The ground may have been too quick. |
| SIKANDER A AZAM | 100 | M | gd | Creditable sixth in the Ubique at Sandown, Feb 17. Had a stiff task at the weights. Rain eased ground would not have helped. |
| UPHAM LORD (IRE) | 100 | ML | gd/hvy | Stayed on onepaced for second behind Silver Castle at Bangor, Mar 9. Barely stays three miles. |
| VENN OTTERY | 100 | S | gfm/gd | Much better over 2m on fast ground but did run a fair race over three miles in a hunters at Ludlow. Had the tactics been at little more postive than give the field a twenty length start before it could run, who knows it might have won. Not disgraced in Aintree Foxhunters, slow grou nd was against it. |
| SCOTMAIL LAD (IRE) | 100 | SL | sft/hvy | Chased home Gola Cher in a Confined at Market Rasen (PTP), Jan 30. Easily outpaced, beaten 32l over 2½ miles by two good hunters at Bangor, Feb 11. |
| VAN NESS (IRE) | 100 | ML | gd/sft | A fair sixth in a hot hunters at Punchestown, April 27. Has won points and is sure to win under rules in due course as it is still improving and has age on its side. |
| STAR JACK (FR) | 100 | M | gsf | Winner, made most, of decent hunters at Ayr, Mar 11 from Coole Abbey 97. Has shown a preference for give in the ground. Weakened quickly after being headed three out in the Aintree FoxHunters, April 7. Dead following a fall at Stratford, May 21. |
| Distance Codes | Going Abbreviations | Hurdlers 2004-05 | Chasers 2004-05 | Other Pages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| S = 2m (or thereabouts). M = 2m 4f. L = 3m. E = 3m 4f+. |
fm = firm, gfm = good to firm, gd = gd, gsf = good to soft, sft = soft, hvy = heavy. |
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