Timeking's Leading Novice Hurdlers 2004-05| Timeking's Leading Novice Hurdlers 2004-05 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Horse | Rtg | Dst | Going | Comment |
| NO REFUGE (IRE) | 152 + | ML | gd/sft | Poor jumping cost it victory in a Gd2 novice at Sandown in Dec. Gained compensation by winning moderately run Gd2 at Warwick, Jan 15. Stayed on well for pressure to catch Racing Demon near the line to win the Gd1 Royal & SunAlliance Novices. Jumped much better here and could find further improvement over 3 miles. |
| RACING DEMON (IRE) | 152 + | M | gd/sft | Two easy novice wins at Exeter in mid Nov and early Jan have sandwiched a very poor effort at Sandown. The tacky ground there may have had some bearing on this. Seems suited to a galloping track. Raced on the outside most of the way. Went for home two out, was caught close to the line by No Refuge in the Royal & SunAlliance at Cheltenham, Mar 16. Will probably go chasing next season. |
| MEPHISTO (IRE) | 151 + | ML | gd/hvy | Promising debut, not knocked about, when third behind Ambobo in Gd2 novice at Cheltenham, Jan 2 9. Comf winner Gd2 Brit Insurance Novices' from Moulin Riche at Haydock , Feb 19. Lacking in experience but definitely useful. Despite the heavy ground put up an excellent time when just beating very useful mud loving juvenile Faasel at Kelso, Mar 5. Aintree "performance" is best forgotten. Connections did say post race that the horse had swallowed its tongue. Made all easy winner of a three runner affair at Ayr, April 15. Timerating here slower than when beaten at Aintree. For the future, it is possible that the horse will be tried at decent two mile contests next year in view of connections' |
| JUSTIFIED (IRE) | 151 + | S | gsf/hvy | Much improved comfortable winner of the Gd2 Byrne Group plc Novice Hurdle at Punchestown, Jan 30. Had finished fourth in the Gd1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle won by Wild Passion at Fairyhouse, Nov 28. Made the running at too quick a pace when finishing only eighth in the Supreme Novices. The ground was on the quick side there but not possible to make a definite conclusion whether or not its chances were affected by the ground. Ridden with some restraint when winning the Gd2 Menolly Homes Novice Hurdle from The Railway Man at Fairyhouse, Mar 29. The ground was also soft. |
| AMBOBO (USA) | 150 + | M | gsf | Winner of the Gd2 Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, Jan 29, where it quickened well to go clear after the second last. A number of victories in France. M ost notable, probably a five length defeat giving 5lb to My Way De Solzen at Clairfontaine Aug 17. |
| OUR BEN | 148 + | M | gd/gsf | Much its best performance when staying on strongly to snatch third place in the Royal & Sun Alliance behind No Refuge and Racing Demon. Like the winner it seems that 3 miles will suit but could be racing over fences. Seemed to be suited by the quicker ground here. Done for toe in a slowly run 20f Gd2 at Fairyhouse, soft, Mar 27. heavily backed pulled up at Punchestown, April 28. Apart from being the end of the season the ground was much slower here than at Cheltenham. |
| YES SIR (IRE) | 148 + | SM | gfm/sft | Comfortable winner of novice at Chepstow in early Dec. Jumped poorly at Uttoxeter Dec 17. Poor effort at Winc , Jan 6 best ignored. Easy winner novice Chepstow 5/2/05. Races keenly ,copes with mud well. Made all for an easy win in a two mile handicap, Chepstow, Mar 29. On fast ground at Sandown, April 23, it stepped up on previous times with a stayed on well win in a handicap. To confirm this was no fluke, notched up a very easy win, in a good time, of an intermediate hurdle at Kelso, May 18. Once again on fast ground. also had run very well on soft ground conceding weight to the whole field at Uttoxeter, April 30. |
| MOULIN RICHE (FR) | 148 + | L | gsf/sft | Sixth, mistake about halfway, behind Ambobo at Cheltenham Jan 29 to fin. Improved to be a decent second behind Mephisto, giving 7lb not pace of winner flat, Haydock, Feb 19. Has won over fences at Auteuil. Seems suited by give in the ground and a strong gallop. Always travelling well in winning the Gd2 Brit Insurance Novices' Hurdle from Over The Creek and Brewster, Mar 18. 4-5mm of artificial rain overnight made a difference to the going. The pace was not great which probably favoured it rather than its two main rivals. A disappointing fourth in the 3m Aintree Gd1 behind Asian Maze and Brewster . Has probably earned a rest. |
| GENGHIS (IRE) | 147 + | SM | gd | Agressively ridden to pick up two valuable handicaps on successive Saturdays' Firstly winning the Listed handicap at Aintree by 6 lenghths on April 9. Following with a win from Royal Shakespeare in the Gd2 Listed Scottish Champion Hurdle handicap at Ayr April 16 |
| POLE STAR | 147 + | M | gfm/gsf | Fine second,not knocked about to Marcel over 2m on hurdles debut, Newbury, Nov 27. Followed up with easy victories in slower run novices at Doncaster and Newbury, Jan/Feb. Kept on, receiving 4lb, but never looking likely to overhaul made all winner Gold Medallist at Huntingdon. Stayed on for a close fourth place in the Royal & SunAlliance. The faster ground was probably welcome. Slower ground at Aintree, also raced wide in a slowly run Gd2 novice. "Effort" best forgotten. |
| GOLD MEDALLIST | 147 + | ML | gd/sft | Winner of a novice on its debut at Exeter, Dec 16 from Secret Ploy that was run in a good time. Media hype scared off creditable opposition when reappearing in what should have been an informative contest over 3m. Despite having to make its own running still posted a useful time in winning. Made all winner, kept finding more when challenged by runner up Pole Star in novice at Huntingdon, Feb 24. Stayed on when headed two out in the Royal & SunAlliance. Did not progress from Cheltenham but was ridiculous to expect it to win after such an aggressive ride. |
| BREWSTER (IRE) | 147 | ML | gd/gsf | Winner of the Gd1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury, Dec 29. Stepped up on that when chasing home Ambobo in a Gd2 at Cheltenham, Jan 29. Only third in the new 3m Gd2 novice at the Cheltenham Festival. It does not have the natural speed of the winner Moulin Riche. The tactic of leading five out certainly cost it second place. Had a tough ask conceding 7lb to improving mare Asian Maze in the 3m Gd1 at Aintree, April 8. Being beaten only 2½ lengths was a creditable effort. |
| ARCALIS | 147 | S | gd/gsf | Winner of slow novices at Ayr and Newcastle in Dec. Ran with credit against experienced rivals in Gd1 hurdle behind Harchibald at Kempton, Dec 26. Winner of Gd1 Letheby & Christopher Supreme Novices Hurdle. Sat off the extremely agressive early pace and was able to challen ge coming to the last and win going away by six lengths from Wild Passion . The ground here was on the fast side of good. |
| REVEILLEZ | 146 + | M | gfm/gsf | A close up sixth in the Royal & SunAlliance against a quality field is the highlight of a useful first season over hurdles with two novice wins at Windsor and Doncaster prior to. that run. |
| MARCEL (FR) | 146 | S | gfm/sft | Multiple novice hurdle winner including Gd2s, starting in the summer. Beaten when obliged to make its own running at Haydock in early December. Winner of the Gd1 ladbrokes.com Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, Jan 8. The early pace was ordinary which did not appear to suit runner-up It's Just Harry, nor Wild Passion or My Way De Solzen. Beaten before two out finishing very tired behind the positively ridden My Way De Solzen on testing ground at Exeter, Feb 13. Never going in the Supreme Novices either has had enough for one season or ironically found the ground too quick. Same again at Aintree, April 8. |
| CELTIC SON (FR) | 146 | L | gsf/sft | Notched up four handicap wins in less than a fortnight in early Jan. In that time managed also to get beaten by progressive Basilea Star in desperate ground at Uttoxter. Stays 3m well and could well be capable of more than its current rating. Very easy winner of slow 3m Novice at Kempton, Feb 11. Missed Cheltenham having been banned under the non triers rule. At Aintree in a handicap travelled like the winner for most of the race but could not cope with a resolute rival. A mistake at the last did not affect the result. Faced a better rival Mephisto with conditions against it at Ayr, April 15. "raced again" the following day. |
| ASIAN MAZE (IRE) | 145 + | ML | gd/sft | Winner of a number of modestly run novice events throughout the season. Showed a marked step up in for m when an easy winner of a Gd3 Mares novice at Fairyhouse, Mar 27. Sweet Kiln ensured a strong gallop but was beaten four out. Asian Maze had taken up the running by this point and never looked in danger of defeat. Confirmed progress by winning the Gd1 3m novice at Aintree, April 8, from Brewster. The remainder of the field well beaten off. Rounded off a great season by easily winning the Gd1 Menolly Homes Champion Novice at Punchestown, April 29. It really was a case of Asian Maze first, the rest nowhere, however, Kerryhead Windhead 130, kept on for a respectable |
| WILD PASSION (GER) | 145 | S | gd/sft | Winner of the Gd1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse, Nov 28, from Rocket Ship, Royal Paradise and Justified. Below that level when only fourth in the Tolworth behind Marcel, where it lost a considerable amount of ground at the last two hurdles, then kept on well on the run in. Six length second to Arcalis in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham, Mar 15. May have found the ground too lively but probably had no answer to winner's challenge because it raced up with a suicidal pace. Just held off the determined challenge of Kill Devil Hill to win the Gd1 Evening Herald Champion Novice at Punchestown, April 26. Led soon enough here. If staying over hurdles next season |
| ROMAN ARK | 143 + | S | gsf/hvy | Impressive victory in a Gd2 at Haydock from Baby Run and Turpin Green. Times suggest that the horse is most effective with plenty of cut in the ground. Backed up with modest effort on ground on the slow side of good in the totesport Trophy, Newbury, Feb 12. Though that was a falsely run affair. Made no show on faster ground at Cheltenham, Mar 16. |
| MY WAY DE SOLZEN (FR) | 143 + | ML | gd/hvy | Second to useful Ambobo at Clairefontaine in Aug. British campaign opened with an ordinary novice win at Leicester, Nov 15. Much more impresive carrying a penalty in a comf novice win in good time at Bangor, Dec 15. Excuses in the moderately run Tolworth at Sandown, Jan 8. Where it was not beaten far in any case. Made all to win a listed novice at Exeter in a good time on testing ground, Feb 13. Never going well on ground that was on the fast side of good in the Supreme Novices at Cheltenham. May have gone off the boil but gave impression it would have been suited by a more positive ride when second to Turpin Green in a slowly run Gd2 at Aintree, April 7. The fact that it was stepping up |
| REBEL RHYTHM | 142 + | ML | sft/hvy | Winner of fixed brush novices at Haydock. Comf in early Nov and easy in mid Dec. Sandwiched between these two efforts was a second to Turpin Green at Aintree. Ran in the Challow hurdle at Newbury Dec 29 without much promise. The ground was almost certainly too quick for this horse. Evidence suggests that soft ground and fences next season will suit. Winner, made all just held on, carrying a double penalty against useful unexposed novices in Van Origny and Brankley Boy at Bangor, Feb 11. Good third giving weight to the first two in Gd3 novices h'cap Sandown, Mar 12. Fell 4out in the 3m Gd1 novice at Aintre e, April 8. May well have finished third if it had got round. |
| COMMERCIAL FLYER (IRE) | 142 + | ME | gfm/sft | Winner of a handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot, Mar 26. Easy winner of a handicap hurdles at Exeter, April 12 and Ayr, April 15. Came from off the pace to win a slowly run handicap at Perth, April 21. Turned out at the same course again the following day. This time over 3m 3f. The result was even more impressive. A very easy victory in a better time. Incedibibly was asked to turn out the next day in a handicap at Sandown 23/4/05. Having travelled over 800 miles, by road, between races. This is not my idea of preparing a star for a long term future at the top. In a very strongly run race, the fastest it had ever run in so far. It acquitted itself very well off a much increased mark of 141. Only crying enough from |
| MIGHTY MAN | 141 + | L | gd/gsf | Easy winner slw NHF, Worcester, May 16. Easy winner novice Hereford, soft, Feb 6. Winner, travelled well, keeping on for pressure to beat useful rival Sea Captain by 2l. Still relatively unexposed, an exciting prospect. Confirmed promise with a win in the Gd2 John Smith's Top Novices' at Aintree, April 8. Almost certainly better than the bare half length margin over runner-up Dusky Warbler. |
| ROYAL PARADISE (FR) | 141 | SM | gd/hvy | Battled back to beat Petertheknot in a novice at Naas, Oct 30. Third kept on when headed in the Gd1 Royal Bond behind Wild Passion, Fairyhouse, Nov 28. Made all winne r of a slow Gd2 novice, Leopardstown, Dec 27. Winner always prominent 18f Gd1 Deloitte Novice from The Railway Man and Augherskea, Leopardstown, Feb 6. Should appreciate step up to 2½ miles. Probably best with plenty of give though ran a grand race in the 2004 Cheltenham Bumper, good. Seventh in the Royal & SunAlliance, Cheltenham Mar 16. Ground may have been too lively but this was a quality field. |
| ROCKET SHIP (IRE) | 141 | S | gd/sft | Excellent second to Wild Passion in the Royal Bond, Fairyhouse end Nov. A last hurdle mistake meant it was not able to give the winner more to do. Poor runs on either side o f this effort suggest that it does not want the ground very testing and is probably better on a flatter track. |
| IN COMPLIANCE (IRE) | 140 + | S | gsf/hvy | Impressive well backed confidently ridden winner of 2m maiden at Punchestown, Jan 30. This was a huge step up on its previous form and should not be ignored lightly when going up in grade. Just failed to overhaul Major Vernon in a slowly run affair at Fairyhouse, Mar 28. Did not appear to have much room in the straight when a close third to Wild Passion in a Gd1 novice at Punchestown, April 26. Likely to have attention turned to chasing next season, where it should perform well. |
| HOMER WELLS (IRE) | 139 | M | gsf/sft | Winner slow Gd3 Hurdle Cork Dec 12. Came from a long back to win strongly run Gd2 to beat Sweet Kiln and Petertheknot at Naas Jan 2. Probably had too stiff a task at this stage, when stepping up to 3 miles on testing ground against Emotional Moment at Gowran Park, Jan 20. Second, stayed on under presure, in Gd2 behind Black Apalachi 128+, Naas Feb 20. Done for toe in a slowly run 20f Gd2 novice behind Sher Beau at Fairyhouse, Mar 27. Well below form when only a distant fourth to surprise winner Carlys Quest 137, in the Gd1 Ballymore Properties Champion Stayers. A typical end of season result. |
| BASILEA STAR (IRE) | 139 | L | gsf/hvy | Prolific winner of handicap hurdles in the north. Gave weight and a beating to Celtic Son in an Uttoxeter h'cap (hvy), Jan 8. A staying on third in hot Kempton h'cap Jan 31. Not disgraced but may have the ground too lively at Cheltenham, Mar 17. Likely to have attention turned to novice chasing next season. Done for toe by Ladalko in a slowly run 2m 6f handicap at Ayr, April 16. |
| MEDISON (FR) | 138 + | S | gsf | Progressive winner of novices at Taunton in Jan and Ludlow in early Mar. Surpassed those efforts with an easy victory in the Sunderlands Imperial Cup (h'cap) at Sandown, Mar 13. Still fairly unexposed it may not have stopped improving yet. Seems best with give in the ground. |
| MAJOR VERNON (IRE) | 138 | S | gd/sft | Comf winner of a Clonmel maiden. Satisfactory fifth (btn 6l) to Wild Passion in the Gd1 Royal Bond, Fairyhouse, Nov 28. Disappointing fifth in slowly run 20f Gd2 at Navn run on testing ground, Dec 12. Never near when 9th in Gd3 at Thurles, Mar 10. Just held on from In Compliance in a slowly run event at Fairyhouse, Mar 28. Well beaten over 2m 4f at Punchestown, April 29. |
| DUSKY WARBLER | 137 | S | gd/gsf | Stayed on at the finish to be third in the Supreme Novices behind Arcalis and Wild Passion. Likely to stay further if the ground is riding fast. Kept on when headed by the winner Mighty Man in a Gd2 novice at Aintree, April 8. |
| SOUTHERN VIC (IRE) | 136 + | M | gsf/hvy | Much improved winner of a Maiden at Leopardstown, Dec 29. Stepped up in grade and duly obliged from Arteea at the same venue eleven days later. Stayed on one paced in sixth in Naas Gd2, Feb 20. Looks in need of 3m now. Is a good chasing prospect for next season. |
| OVER THE CREEK | 136 + | L | gd/sft | Winner of a strongly run novices handicap at Cheltenham, Nov 13. Followed up a week later when winning a handicap on soft at Aintree, Nov 21. Poor effort at Haydock in early Dec. Comf winner of 3m handicap only leading at the last at Newbury, Feb 12. Stays well and is improving. Stayed on nearest at the finish when second in Gd2 at Cheltenham, Mar 18, behind Moulin Riche. Pedigree suggests that winning novice chases will be on the cards next season. |
| CORNISH SETT (IRE) | 136 + | SM | gd/sft | Comf winner of a maiden at Chepstow in Dec. Followed up with a staying on win in a two mile novices h'cap at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Next seen out at Sandown in the EBF H'cap Final. Despite finishing only fourth behind Julius Caesar, ran with credit managing to notch rating up by a further 5lb. Breeding suggests that it will not be long in having its attention turned to novice chasing. Winner of a slowly run novice from Coat Of Honour and Aleron, Ayr, April 15. |
| SEA CAPTAIN | 136 | S | gd/gsf | Impressive winner of a Sandown novice, Feb 17. Looked much better than its rivals there. Seemly outbattled by the useful Mighty Man back at Sandown, Mar 11. It could be that it led far too early here having travelled well and jumped into the lead at the fifth. Weak in th e market, weak in the race, Aintree, April 8. |
| TURPIN GREEN (IRE) | 135 + | ML | gd/hvy | Followed comf win in Uttxoter novice, Feb 29. With a victory over useful Rebel Rhythm at Aintree, Nov 21. Mistakes at Haydock when third behind Roman Ark, Jan 21. Improved for step up to 3m when third behind Mephisto and Moulin Riche at Haydock, Feb 1 9. Goes well in the mud. Still improving. Beat two useful rivals in winning the Gd2 John Smith's Mersey Novices Hurdle on slow going at Aintree, April 7. Must point out that the time was slow. Runner up My Way De Solzen was too consevatively ridden, bearing in mind the slow early pace. Mephisto lost ground by racing wide, nevertheless looked the likely winner when leading three out but found nothing under pressure. |
| BILLYVODDAN (IRE) | 135 + | M | gsf/sft | Progressive novice. Winner of oridnary novices at Uttoxeter in May and December in Jan. In between had put up a number of good placed efforts. Improved upon those results with a good second at Sandown when pipped close home by Julius Caesar in a Gd3 novice h'cap. Almost certainly best with give. Likely to be a useful novice chaser next season. |
| BABY RUN (FR) | 135 + | S | gsf/hvy | Comfortable winner of an ordinary novice at Haydock, Dec 30. But has creditable seconds in Gd2s behind Marcel at Cheltenham, Nov 12 and Roman Ark, Jan 22. Has improve d on the clock with each run so far. |
| PETERTHEKNOT (IRE) | 135 | M | gsf/hvy | Useful novice around 20f. Second to Royal Paradise in slow novice at Naas end Oct. Followed by good second to Sweet Kiln in a Gd3 at Navan, Nov 21. Reversed placings with that winner in style in a slowly run Gd2 at the same track, Dec 12. Best effort so far on the clock when Sweet Kiln made the running at a stronger pace in a Gd2 at Naas, Jan 2. Weakening only at the last to finish just four lengths behind eventual winner Homer Wells. A very poor effort at Leopardstown, Jan 23 is best ignored. Held up in a slowly run Gd2 Fairyhouse, Mar 27. Stayed on for a respectable fourth over an inadequate 2m behind Justified at Fairyhouse, Mar 29. A fair fourth behind easy winner |
| MAN ABOUT TOWN (IRE) | 135 | S | sft/hvy | Winner of a slowly run novice at Clonmel, Oct 31. Won a decent Navan handicap by 10l with ease on Dec 12. Never competitive behind all the way winner Royal Paradise in a sl owly run Gd2 at Leopardstown, Dec 27. More respectable effort when beaten over 15l in third by Justified at Punchestown, Jan 30. Close to best when attempting to make all and only just caught at Fairyhouse, Mar 28. Soon beaten after being headed in a Gd1 won by Wild Passion at Punchestown, April 26. |
| SWEET KILN (IRE) | 135 | ML | gsf/hvy | Game front running staying mare. Won, battled back when headed to beat Petertheknot and Tasman, Gd3 N'hdl Navan, Nov 21. Done for toe when outpointed by Petertheknot in slower run Gd2 back at Navn, Dec 12. Went stronger gallop to beat that rival in Gd2, Naas, Jan 2 but was pipped by the late run of Homer Wells. Game winner of novice against Carraig Blue at Fairyhouse, Jan 16. One paced fourth in 18f Gd1 behind Royal Paradise, Leopardstown, Feb 6. Stayed on one pace in third in 20f Gd2 at Naas, Feb 20. Caught on line by Teeming Rain 119+, in Gd3 Thurles, Mar 10. Probably needs 3m and give now but has had a hard season. No match for Asian Maze |
| CARRAIG BLUE (IRE) | 135 | L | sft/hvy | Maiden hurdle winner at Limerick in Dec. Beaten only in the last 50yds by a very game Sweet Kiln in a strongly run novice at Fairyhouse, Jan 16. Wide margin wnr, positively ridden when early pace was slow, decent novice at Clonmel, Feb 3. Ran below par at Fairyhouse, Mar 28. It did finish lame though and the injury is regarded as career threatening. |
| LORD HENRY (IRE) | 134 + | SM | gfm/gsf | Very easy wide margin winner of a strongly run novice hurdle at Taunton, Oct 28. Ran green but still proved to be an easy winner when making all in a slower contest at Kempton, Nov 17. |
| OULART (IRE) | 134 + | L | gd/hvy | Made all to win a Maiden hurdle at Clonmel, Dec 9. Won a handicap hurdle with a fair bit in hand at Leopardstown, Dec 27. Followed with two ordinary runs but bounced back at the Cheltenham Festival, Mar 17, to win the Pertemps Final (h'cap) comfortably. |
| NYRCHE (FR) | 134 + | S | gfm/gsf | Put in a much improved performance to win a Haydock handicap by 6 lengths, March 26 |
| 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. |
Leading Hurdlers Juveniles NH Flat Horses |
Leading Chasers Novices Hunters & Pointers | Novice Hurdlers 2003-04 Home |