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Most eyes this weekend were on Many Clouds who got a second chance to put the finishing touches to his Grand National preparation in the listed Premier Chase at Kelso on Sunday, the meeting having been rearranged from eight days earlier (waterlogged).
Many Clouds strictly didn't need to be at his peak to justify market strength after seven weeks off but, in terms of a big-race leg-stretch, he couldn't have done things any more satisfactorily (and he’s had his Timeform master rating raised by 1 lb to 170 for good measure). Not since the same owner’s Hedgehunter in 2006 has a Grand National winner headed to Aintree with such strong claims of retaining the title (last achieved by Red Rum in 1974).
Here are the updated Grand National Ratings (weight adjusted):
185p The Last Samuri
184 Silviniaco Conti
182 Any Currency
182 Bishops Road
182 Cause of Causes
181p Don Poli
181 Le Reve
181 Many Clouds
181 Shutthefrontdoor
Unioniste ran a fine 'trial' for a valuable long-distance prize in his own right as he finished ten lengths second, but the Grand National almost certainly won't be it based on his fall in the race a year earlier and the fact he finished well held in the Becher over those fences first time back this season.
Second favourite Sausalito Sunrise briefly looked a threat to Many Clouds at the end of the back straight (went 2/1-on in–running) but was eventually pipped for third by 200/1-shot Carrigdhoun and seemed to pay for trying to go with Many Clouds. Placing Sausalito Sunrise won't be easy with his BHA mark now in the 160s.
Also at Kelso, Le Prezien confirmed the promise of his second to the enterprisingly-ridden Its'afreebee (entered in the Neptune at Cheltenham on Wednesday, though has been largely kept to testing conditions) at Haydock when winning the Grade 2 Premier Kelso Hurdle for novices. Le Prezien didn’t actually need to improve—still rated 141p—to win by three lengths from The Dutchman (121p), but he’s shaping up to be a smart hurdler who should relish a well-run, big-field handicap, while the return to quicker ground is unlikely to be a problem either given the way he travels.
Saturday’s Imperial Cup winner Flying Angel won’t be collecting the traditional lucrative financial bonus (£100,000 in 2015) previously given to connections of horses who win that race and follow up at the Cheltenham Festival a few days later as it is no longer on offer following the Imperial Cup losing its deal with a leading bookmaker. Flying Angel has scant chance of getting a run in anything other than the Martin Pipe at the Festival (also entered in Coral Cup and County Hurdle) anyway, even with a penalty.
While the betting suggested Betfair Hurdle fourth Affair d’Honneur would reverse form with Betfair Hurdle third Flying Angel in the Imperial Cup—the pair started at 9/2 and 9/1 respectively—it was Flying Angel who progressed again (from 125 to 141) to win by five lengths from the remarkable Solstice Star, who wasgoing for his sixth straight handicap win and improved further himself (now rated 135).
The 127-rated Spice Fair ran creditably in third, but Affaire d’Honneur (129) was never travelling well before finished fourth and has lost his ‘p’, as has Allee Bleue (127) who finished fifth, while the Kingwell winner Rayvin Black ran well below his best (master rating of 144) back in a handicap as he finished sixth.
On the same Sandown card, The Nipper took her record to three wins from three starts (and her rating from 109 to 115+) in the listed mares’ bumper and Kylemore Lough edged his rating up further—to 154p (the same rating as Arkle runner Sizing John, who doesn’t have a ‘p’)—as he defeated two rivals in the novice handicap chase.
Another jumper from the weekend worth mentioning is Sue Smith’s No Planning who bounced back from failing to complete in the Becher and Sky Bet (reportedly bled) Chases to make all in the three-mile handicap chase at Ayr and has quickly returned to a Timeform master rating of 135 (144 at his best).
There was quality racing on the Flat too, as Wolverhampton staged their feature meeting of the year. The Lincoln Trial was won by the lightly-raced Keystroke whose nose defeat of Supersta has seen his rating edge up from 102p to 104p. Keystroke got back on the up after six months off/making his all-weather debut and had no problems with this slightly longer trip (extended mile). He was fortunate to win on the day, but this looks strong form all the same and with further progress likely, he'll remain of interest.
Supersta was an unlucky loser for the second start in a row, meeting some trouble early in the straight and just failing. He’s been one of the stories of the all-weather season, rising from a Timeform rating of 75 to 103 since joining Mick Appleby, and he looks sure to continue to give a good account; his form for his previous connections suggests he should be able to translate his progress back to turf, though it’s worth bearing in mind that he’s highly unlikely to get a run in the Lincoln given he was BHA-rated 77 at the entry stage and has only picked up a 5-lb penalty since, while he may struggle to even make the cut for the consolation race, the Spring Mile (the Victoria Cup at Ascot is reportedly a summer target).
The most prestigious race at Dunstall Park in terms of status, the listed Wulfruna Stakes over seven furlongs, was also decided by the narrowest margin as Mister Universe held off the persistent Sovereign Debt. Mister Universe actually didn’t need to match the form of his 116-rated win in a mile handicap at Lingfield seven days earlier to follow up, while Sovereign Debt’s first start for three months showed he’s as good as ever (rated 117), and as genuine, given his jockey Adrian Nicholls received three separate bans for his ride. Both will be dangers to Mindurownbusiness (120) should connections opt to go for the AW Mile Championship on Good Friday.
On just his third start for second-year trainer Charlie Wallis, Zac Brown built on his previous promise to win the valuable six-furlong handicap on the card by a neck from Steelriver, taking advantage of a mark just 1 lb higher than for his last success. Zac Brown benefited from more positive tactics than usual the way this went, but he looks rejuvenated for his new stable (returned to his peak rating of 103) and should give another good account next time. The 104-rated runner-up was also having his third outing for a new handler, namely David Barron who used to train Zac Brown.
