Newcastle Saturday
Betfair Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1)
THE betting suggested that the Fighting Fifth would be a cakewalk for Buveur D’Air on Saturday, but Barry Geraghty’s mount was beaten in a close finish after literally demolishing the penultimate hurdle.
While his defeat was a shock, the news that he’d sustained an injury when a splinter of wood pierced his coronet band and entered his hoof was a bigger blow. The injury necessitated surgery, and the issue now is that in order to remove the large splinter (I think mote is the appropriate biblical term), his off-fore hoof had to be opened up and that will take some time to heal and rebuild. How long he is out for is impossible to tell, but he’s been removed from the Champion Hurdle betting by most firms.
The potential loss of Nicky Henderson’s 2017 and 2018 winner weakens the Champion Hurdle to some degree, but it does highlight the fact that the race looks there for the taking, and given three novices have won the contest since 1992, it will be interesting to see if some of the top novices are aimed at the prize.
That may be the case, but bettors should be aware that Royal Gait, Alderbrook and Make A Stand all had either high-class flat form or a wealth of hurdling experience behind them when lining up at Cheltenham. Those considering going for the Champion in March need to make sure their charges are hardened in a competitive environment. This is not the kind of decision to leave until the 11th hour.
Victory
Of course, we shouldn’t let the injury to Buveur D’Air detract from the victory of Cornerstone Lad (16/1), who was maintaining his remarkable rise from moderate flat stayer to high-class hurdler, and now has a Grade 1 win to his name.
Henry Brooke did steal a march on his rivals with his positive tactics aboard Micky Hammond’s charge, but the winner was very game when joined after the last and fought on well to score.
The handicapper has raised him to a mark of 157, and while he may be a trifle flattered by that mark, it does demonstrate how far he’s come since making a winning hurdles debut at Hexham just over two years ago.
Cornerstone Lad won by a short-head, with three and a quarter lengths back to Silver Streak in third. The latter was ridden for late gains, and not seen to best advantage. Lady Buttons pretty much confirmed that she is best granted a relative test of speed on testing ground, going better than Silver Streak at the penultimate flight, but fading on the run-in.
Even in a weak season, the principals here will need to do better to be considered for the Champion Hurdle itself in the March festival.
THE Rehearsal Chase was not the strongest event for a listed handicap, but produced a remarkable finish as longtime leader Top Ville Ben weakened dramatically having appeared to have an unassailable lead at the last, and was swamped by 20/1 winner Takingrisks (Nicky Richards/Sean Quinlan) and Captain Chaos in the dying strides. The winner had also sprung a shock in the Scottish Grand National in the spring, and is a thorough stayer who took advantage of the emphasis placed on stamina by the third. He has the Eider over an extra mile at this track as an obvious mid-season target.
Captain Redbeard sustained an injury in the straight, and is reported by his trainer to be out for the rest of the season.