Wetherby Saturday

THERE is no doubting what the star performance of the weekend – if not the entire season so far – was, and after having his credentials questioned after failing to go on from a famous victory over Altior at Ascot last November, Cyrname (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) was back to silence his doubters at Wetherby. Despite being allowed to drift to 3/1 before the off, the highest-rated chaser in Britain let those who questioned that assessment know that he is as good as ever.

Allowed to race wider on the track than most, Cyrname never put a foot wrong the whole way, jumping much better than market rival Vinndication (Kim Bailey/David Bass), and he cruised clear without Cobden having to ask any serious questions to win by a margin of two lengths which certainly could have been doubled or possibly trebled had he been asked a serious question. Aye Right (Harriet Graham/Callum Bewley) made most of the running and plugged on willingly to post a career-best effort in third, just seven lengths behind the facile winner.

This was a first win left-handed for Cyrname, and it was pleasing to see him jump straight and true at his fences, while heavy rain asked questions of his unproven stamina which were answered in brilliant style. It’s possible that this free-going sort had less up his sleeve than the visual impression suggests, but even the bare form of beating an improving seven-year-old chaser like Vinndication while conceding weight is encouraging, and he will head to the King George with a big chance on the book.

It’s very possible that a hard race against Altior with less time to recover was his undoing in that race last year, and the choice of this contest for his 2020/21 return may prove an inspired one, for all one or two thought Nicholls had lost his marbles in targeting Wetherby rather than Ascot again.

Vinndication took time to warm to his task, which is disappointing given that he is normally a bold jumper, but losing ground at the early fences did not cost him the race on this occasion. That said there is no shame in coming up short against a horse officially rated 15lb his superior, and this display shows that he is continuing to go the right way. With his usual slick jumping back in evidence, he’s capable of landing a prize like this another day.

Gold Cup

Paul Nicholls indicated afterwards that any problems going this way around were only in evidence when Cyrname was “being an idiot as a young horse”, and after Christmas he will prepare the horse for the Gold Cup, arguing that he believes he’ll be better suited by that race than the Ryanair, although his assertion that Cyrname lacks the pace to be a Ryanair horse will raise a few eyebrows.

He will get an entry for the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, although the trainer is pessimistic about the chances of being allowed to travel, and Kempton appears his most likely destination in December.

Roksana stamps her class to earn Stayers’ quotes

IT was somewhat surprising that Dan Skelton’s 2019 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle winner Roksana was not made favourite in the early lists for the Grade 2 bet365 Hurdle given she was in receipt of 13lb from shock Stayers’ Hurdle hero Lisnagar Oscar, but a weight of money soon changed that, and Harry Skelton’s mount was eventually sent off at 13/8 favourite with the latter drifting to 9/2 in the betting.

The money proved accurate, with Roksana running away from her rivals in the straight to post an eight-and-a-half-length win over Next Destination (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden), with Kildisart (Ben Pauling/Jerry McGrath) denying Lisnagar Oscar third place.

He’s far from being the leading jumps sire, so the fact that the first three home are all sons or daughters of Dubai Destination is something to be remarked upon.

Hyde revelation

Mrs Hyde (Daryl Jacob) has proven a revelation for Brian Ellison this autumn, and after landing a listed novice hurdle at Kempton’s opening meeting of the season, she grabbed more blacktype by turning over hot favourite Verdana Blue (Nicky Henderson/Nico de Boinville) at Wetherby.

The seven-year-old is thriving at the moment, and she was very well backed to win by a neck from the below-par favourite, returning at 6/1 having been as big as 20/1 when the market opened. She was conceding 2lb to the runner-up, which is worth noting, and while this form is not as strong as it might be, she has plenty of opportunities to add to this win in a programme which caters well for mares with her talent.

Mrs Hyde has shown a tendency to jump to her right, but travelled very well through this contest, quickening to lead early in the straight, and holding on well when challenged. She coped well with ground softened by heavy rain on the day, and that might be an excuse of sorts for Verdana Blue, although it is now the second disappointing effort of the season for her, and a small step backwards from her reappearance effort behind Silver Streak at Kempton last month.