Ascot Saturday
THE Coral Hurdle was most notable for the flop of one-time Champion Hurdle favourite Laurina, whose only run for Paul Nicholls ended with her trailing home, and she was retired when it became clear that she had bled again.
It’s a shame to have seen a stellar career end so humbly, but no doubt the decision was the best one for her well-being. The race went in pillar-to-post fashion to the progressive Song For Someone (Tom Symonds/Nico de Boinville) who jumped much better than 2019 runner-up Call Me Lord to post a career-best effort.
Given the circumstances, he would appear to have something to prove if he’s to enter the reckoning for the 2021 Champion Hurdle, but the five-year-old is a very slick hurdler with a tremendous attitude, and he’s well worth his place in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.
How he fares back in trip there will determine whether taking on Epatante et al is a realistic task, but he’s not one to underestimate in an era lacking brilliant hurdlers.
Aura of authority in 1965
IMPERIAL Aura provided Kim Bailey and David Bass with the first leg of a notable double when running out a most impressive winner of the Grade 2 Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase.
Last season’s Northern Trust Novices’ Handicap Chase winner had maintained his progress by taking the Colin Parker Memorial at Carlisle last month, but looked to face a tough test against Gold Cup sixth Real Steel (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) and Grade 1 winner Itchy Feet (Olly Murphy/Gavin Sheehan).
He was backed to take the step up in class in his stride, and did so with aplomb, the 13/8 favourite powering home by five lengths from Itchy Feet after a flawless performance which puts him firmly in the picture for Grade 1 events like the Ascot Chase and the Ryanair at Cheltenham in March. A BHA rating of 163 makes him the leading British contender in the intermediate division.
Bailey and Bass went on to victory on the two-mile handicap chase with First Flow, whose jumping left a bit to be desired at times, but the Primary gelding is certainly brave enough, and threw in a big leap at the last fence when he needed it most to secure victory. He’s still something of a work in progress despite this fourth consecutive win over the larger obstacles, and he’s capable of better yet.
Henderson moves up a gear
NICKY Henderson may have been playing second fiddle to Paul Nicholls in numerical terms so far this season, but he’s noticeably shifted up a gear in recent days, introducing two of his best novice chase prospects.
On Friday at Ascot, the Seven Barrows handler landed a double with Chantry House and Buzz in the novice chase and the two-mile handicap hurdle, whereas on Monday at Kempton, he unleashed another potential superstar chaser in the shape of Supreme Novices’ winner Shishkin, with the big trio all ridden by Nico de Boinville.
Chantry House was more workmanlike than impressive in landing his debut over fences, although he wasn’t left with much to beat when market rival Pic D’Orhy departed at the third-last.
The Nicholls horse had yet to be asked for his all, but had been joined by the strong-travelling Chantry House at the time, and the winner deserves credit while also having a fair bit to work on. He was a little careful at his fences in the first half of the race, but was warming up when left with the race at his mercy.
Much more impressive visually was Shishkin, who was reminiscent of Sprinter Sacre in throwing in a few extravagant leaps on his way to a bloodless win over Mick Pastor, and he was also clever when he needed to be. We tend to be too quick to hail new stars on limited evidence, and while I don’t believe we should close the entries for the 2022 Champion Chase, there was very little to crab in this performance, save the lack of a challenge from the tenderly handled runner-up.