Ratings Update: Clarence far from a classic contest

There was plenty of debate in the build-up to the Clarence House Chase at Ascot as to whether the race should revert to being a handicap – as it was originally before being upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2007 – and the field/outcome on Saturday certainly more raises questions as to whether it deserves its place in the calendar, at least in its current guise.

In the absence of Un de Sceaux, winner for the last three seasons, Altior (remains on 180p) made all the running to complete a very straightforward task at odds of 10/1-on, becoming the seventh odds-on winner of the race in the last 11 years. Chief rival Fox Norton (remains on 167), who was returning from a lengthy absence, never looked likely to land a blow at any stage, despite the winner conceding ground at most of his fences by jumping left.

It was a 17th consecutive win for Altior today! 🙌

He took victory in the Matchbook Clarence House Chase at @Ascot pic.twitter.com/J9Al8Re51a

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 19, 2019

It is worth pointing out that Ascot is a track where chasers can jump markedly left, perhaps more so than at Sandown, for example, and it is probably nothing to worry about so far as the Champion Chase is concerned; Altior is no bigger than 7/4-on for that assignment, where he will attempt to match Big Buck’s’ record of 18 consecutive wins over jumps.

A dual Grade 1 winner in 2016/17, Fox Norton shaped as if retaining all of his ability after 13 months off, and he is likely to be right back to his best with this under his belt, while the last of the three runners, Grade 1-winning novice chaser Diego du Charmil (down 2 lb to 155), collected £16,000 for finishing in his own time.

Nicholls’ winner is a Name to remember

The most valuable of the supporting races at Ascot was the bet365 Handicap Chase. The £75,000-prize looked far more competitive than the Clarence House on paper, but proved less so in the event, with Cyrname (165+ from 150) taking a significant step foward to rout the in-form yardsticks Doitforthevillage (remains on 139) and Happy Diva (remains on 141) by 21 lengths.

Clearly relishing being able to dominate back up in trip, Paul Nicholls’ charge maintained a good gallop all the way and, if anything, he was increasing his advantage over all of his rivals in the straight; he is a serious Grade 1 horse on this showing and should not be underestimated if returning for next month’s Ascot Chase over C&D.

Also worth a mention from the action at Ascot is the versatile Irish raider Magic of Light (up 15 lb to 139+), who continued her good run of form to win the Grade 2 OLBG.com Mares’ Hurdle and could be back in action – and back over fences – in Friday’s Lady Protectress at Huntingdon.

Meanwhile, the Grade 3 Matchbook Holloway’s Handicap Hurdle went the way of Ballymoy (150 from 144p). Admittedly, the race had the feel of a substandard edition, made worse with only a handful at most firing on the day, but it is hard to fault the progressive winner, who was making it six wins from his last seven starts, and he's now closing in on Wholestone as the best hurdler around carrying the colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Citizen still a Cheltenham outsider

Haydock also hosted a high-quality card on Saturday, with the pick of the action coming in the Champion Hurdle Trial, which was run in honour of four-time winner The New One following his retirement last month.

The New One achieved his best finishing position in the Champion Hurdle when an unlucky third behind Jezki in 2014, and a finish in the frame is likely to prove the best that Global Citizen (up 5 lb to 151) can hope for at the Festival, despite him showing improved form to inflict a three-length defeat on Silver Streak (up 2 lb to 151) in this Grade 2 prize.

Global Citizen beats Silver Streak to take victory in The New One Unibet Hurdle at @haydockraces! pic.twitter.com/UK0W8gP4O3

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 19, 2019

Indeed, this was the epitome of a ‘trial in name only’, and bridging the gap with the principals for the opening-day feature at Cheltenham looks beyond him, with his distant fourth behind Verdana Blue and Buveur d’Air over Christmas still fresh in the mind.

The runner-up’s trainer Evan Williams, who could argue that his charge was unlucky after a mistake that cost him all momentum three out, accepted as much in the aftermath, and Silver Streak is likely to run in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton next before swerving the Festival altogether.

Mister Fisher hops into Supreme contention

There were four Grade 2s at Haydock in total, with the novice hurdlers and chasers getting their respective chances to shine earlier on the card. Firstly, the mare Castafiore (138+ from 128p) took another step forward to win the Patrick Coyne Memorial Altcar Novices’ Chase – a race won by Waiting Patiently and Bristol de Mai in recent years – and her assured jumping technique is sure to stand her in good stead going forward.

Perhaps of greater interest with the Cheltenham Festival in mind, however, is Mister Fisher (up 9 lb to 143p), who put up an effort bordering on smart in winning the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle. He gave weight and a two-and-a-half-length beating to the previously unbeaten runner-up, Bright Forecast (136 from 130p), and is unlikely to have finished improving yet, though the market would suggest that Angel’s Breath, who was diverted from this race earlier in the week, remains his stable’s number one hope for the Supreme.

Mister Fisher sees off Bright Forecast to win the Sky Bet Supreme Trial Rossington Main Novices' Hurdle at @haydockraces pic.twitter.com/DpHD6M0J6o

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 19, 2019

Rather unusually for this meeting, those races were staged on good-to-soft ground, and the strangest sight of the day was perhaps the field for the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase coming home with only 10 lengths covering the first six!

A race in which they often finish strung out – the three previous editions had been won by distances of 13, 22 and 15 lengths – it was the grand old campaigner Wakanda (up 2 lb to 147) who enjoyed the freak sound surface most of all, as he produced an effort not far shy of his very best to add to this valuable prize to his earlier wins in the Rehearsal Chase, Silver Cup and Sky Bet Chase, with the lightly-raced Robinsfirth (remains on 146) and Ballydine (up 6 lb to 139), who could reoppose the winner in next month’s Grand National Trial back at Haydock, filling the places.

Permis continues progress in Thurles thriller

Finally, Grade 2 action was also on offer at Thurles on Sunday. The Mares’ Novices’ Chase went the way of Camelia de Cotte (up 2 lb to 145p), who barely came off the bridle in winning by 20 lengths; she remains open to more improvement after just six starts (five wins) over fences and will continue to prove hard to beat in similar events.

The Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase, on the other hand, required the judge to separate the Gigginstown-pair Tout Est Permis (up 6 lb to 155p) and Sub Lieutenant (up 3 lb to 157) after they had flashed past the post together. The latter came out best at the weights (conceded 3 lb), but it was Tout Est Permis who got the verdict in the photo to complete the hat-trick and, still only six, he may yet to do better with his entries in the Ryanair and Gold Cup at Cheltenham both likely to be considered.