Ratings Update: Ascot and Haydock

Un Deux Trois

The big Grade 1 race of the weekend was the Clarence House Chase at Ascot, which was won for the third successive season by Un de Sceaux (169), who didn’t need to be at his best – as was the case in the previous two runnings of the race – to come out on top in a gruelling race run at a strong gallop on the heavy ground. Speredek (153+) was responsible for forcing the pace and stuck on well for second after Brain Power (156+) came down heavily two out. Speredek was ultimately outclassed but ran a fine race up in grade, while Brain Power – rated as finishing a narrow second for now – fell for the second successive start, hardly ideal so far as big spring targets are concerned.

WATCH: Un De Sceaux makes history by becoming the first triple winner of the Clarence House Chase @Ascot. In the process the 10-year-old takes his career winnings above £1 million.

Form: 1/111/11111/F111/1F122/161112-11

Results ➡️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/xT6L3IPJc7

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) January 20, 2018

The preceding bet365 Handicap Chase was also a race lacking depth, three withdrawals on the day not helping matters, but it was won by a horse firmly on the upgrade in Acting Lass (151P), and he could well be contesting graded novices soon. His tendency to idle when in front (as he’d done last time) is likely to keep him ahead of the handicapper for now, so his connections have plenty of options.

Connections of La Bague Au Roi (146+) will also have a fair few options for the rest of the season after she looked better than ever when taking the Grade 2 Warfield Hurdle earlier on the Ascot card. She had a straightforward task (main form rival Dusky Legend was withdrawn), but was impressive and looks well worth a crack at Grade 1 level, the Stayers’ Hurdle making more sense as a target than the Mares’ Hurdle if she goes to Cheltenham.

Jenkins thriving

There were a few reasons to be against Jenkins (149) in the main betting race on Ascot’s card, up 11 lb for his win at Kempton on the previous Saturday (where he’d had the run of things out in front) and no certainty to stay the longer trip on more testing ground, but he is thriving all of a sudden and was better than ever, seeing things out well despite racing keenly. He’s got a Betfair Hurdle entry and would get in there under a 5 lb penalty, which may be tempting. There were disappointments in the race including the well-backed Oxwich Bay, who was let down by his jumping up in grade, but the second Air Horse One (148) has some strong early-season form to his name and adds solidity to the result (also a strong timefigure, as shown below).

The market couldn’t split the three principals in the closing race – a novices’ hurdle – on the card and all three will remain of interest going forward, particularly the winner Vinndication (138p), who showed a willing attitude to overhaul the strong-travelling Champ (131p). The winner will be even better over further while the second was perhaps just in need of the run after 11 months off and did nothing wrong. Third place Just A Sting (remains on 118p) should have been suited by going back up in trip but the lack of pace probably counted against him – he remains with potential, likely to do better when faced with a bigger field/stronger gallop.

Stick with the Flow

The fields weren’t big over at Haydock on Saturday but the six that lined up in the Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle were all in form, while the majority had already reached a useful level, so it was all the more impressive to see First Flow (140p) be so dominant in victory. First Flow has plenty about him physically and will make a smashing chaser further down the line, but in the shorter term he’s improving all the time, taking apart this field as he had done in lesser company on his first two starts over hurdles. He’ll improve further but, given he seems to revel in the mud, his participation in the big spring festivals would have to be in doubt somewhat. Others to pick out of the race include Waterlord (loses his 'p', now 136) who paid the price for trying to take on the winner up front, and Lisdoonvarna Lad (127p), who did well to finish third less than four weeks after his hurdling debut win.

First Flow maintains his unbeaten record over hurdles (3-3) with a smart victory in the Grade Two Supreme Trial @haydockraces. How impressed were you with that performance?

Results ➡️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/lMnPR4kXJf

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) January 20, 2018

Four for The New One

Haydock’s Champion Hurdle Trial hasn’t had much of a bearing on Festival for a while but it still served up a treat, The New One (163) landing a fourth win in the contest and showing that his admirable attitude and will to win is barely waning even at the age of ten. Ch’tibello (150) did his best to get by his older rival, looming up two out and leading after the last before The New One fought back. Ch’tibello is likely to run his race in the Champion Hurdle, though he won’t have the ability to play anything more than a minor role.

Only five got round in the Peter Marsh but the race should still prove strong form between the principals, the winner The Dutchman (up 7 to 147) running a career best to win convincingly from the thriving course specialist Captain Redbeard (144). The Dutchman is unexposed over staying trips and may do better still. The other notable winner on the card was Testify (145p), who didn’t have much to beat in the Grade 2 Altcar Novices’ Chase but again did things in a thoroughly professional manner and remains with plenty of potential, not least when he tackles even further.