NICKY Henderson had been thinking of taking on Dodging Bullets with L’Ami Serge but sent him to Warwick instead for the three-runner Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.
In fact both horses were beaten but L’Ami Serge’s defeat was the bigger surprise at 1/5.
A little sketchy at two or three of the fences, he never quite got to front-runner Violet Dancer and was beaten 11 lengths with Fox Norton last of the three.
This is quite a day each year for Gary and Jamie Moore’s winner because 12 months ago he took the Betfair Hurdle. This latest success made it four out of five over the bigger obstacles and he deserves his place in the Arkle next month. Unfortunately the horse suffered a leg injury and will miss the rest of the season.
“I thought I’d serve it up to L’Ami Serge down the hill and again turning in,” Jamie Moore said. “L’Ami Serge enjoys a strong end-to-end gallop and he’s very hard, like a lot of dad’s.”
L’Ami Serge had jumped much better when winning his previous two races and deserves a chance to show this running was all wrong.
Consequently it may be best merely to note Anthony Bromley’s post-race assertion that the horse would not be going to the Arkle. Bromley acts as racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede and was understandably disappointed, but Henderson himself was not prepared to give up just yet.
VIVALDI ON SONG
The ground has been such that any talented horse might be forgiven an off day and Paul Nicholls’ Vivaldi Collonges was never able to join issue in the Classic Chase here a couple of weeks ago. On a good afternoon for ‘outsider of three’ theorists (a very expensive approach overall) he started at 3/1 and coasted miles clear of Dawson City in the 7bets4free.com Novices’ Chase after 5/4 favourite Racing Pulse had jumped slowly at least twice, obliging Leighton Aspell to pull him up.
Vivaldi Collonges has entries in the big Grand National trials but may need another year before Aintree warrants serious consideration.
It was still a good day for the evergreen Aspell, who completed a double on Jonjo O’Neill’s Taquin Du Seuil, back to form in the two and half mile handicap chase, and Evan Williams’ Clyne in the two-mile handicap hurdle.
MULLINS AGAIN
Warwick has become a happy hunting ground for willie Mullins and the Co Carlow maestro made it seven winners from his last 11 runners here when 4/7 favourite Open Eagle easily won the opening novices’ hurdle in the hands of Paul Townend.
A son of Montjeu, Open Eagle stays particularly well and may step up to three miles at Cheltenham.
“He’s improving all the time and is in all three novice hurdles at Cheltenham but I’d say the Albert Bartlett is the most likely,” said Steve Massey, representing owners Supreme Horse Racing Club and Colin Gray.
Stable-companion Petite Parisienne would have had only five above her in the handicap if essaying Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle. She preferred Warwick and the Listed OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle but seems short of her best at present and could finish only fourth behind 8/1 shot Flute Bowl and Jamie Moore. On another very successful afternoon for the family, the Moores clearly have a contender for the Mares’ Hurdle itself in March.
Ar Mad injured
Exciting novice Ar Mad romped to victory at Plumpton on Monday but he returned lame and misses the season. There were two Irish winners on Tuesday, Danielle’s Journey for Stuart Crawford at Ayr and Lifting Me Higher at Southwell for Willie Browne.