Ratings Update: Confusion at Sandown but a Super Saturday in Dubai

There were some competitive contests over jumps over the weekend despite the proximity to Cheltenham, and two well-contested handicap hurdles took centre stage at Sandown. The final of the EBF series for novices was overshadowed by controversy when the wrong result was initially announced, but that shouldn’t obscure the fact that it was a typically strong renewal featuring plenty of progressive types, many of them no doubt future chasers. Third Wind’s jockey Tom O’Brien knew exactly where the finishing line was, producing him from the rear to lead on the post for a short-head victory. Third Wind (133p from 123p) was one of the picks of the field on looks and is likely to stay further than 2m4f. Runner-up One For Rosie (140p from 129p), who had been wrongly called the winner after passing the first winning post a neck in front, ran a good race in defeat under top weight even so. He’s another progressive type, and capable of giving a good account in graded company (his half-sister Misty Whisky won the listed mares’ bumper later on the card, incidentally). Like the first two, Champagne Well (130 from 121) showed improvement on his handicap debut and probably deserved extra credit, racing much more prominently than the pair who beat him.

RESULT OVERTURNED...

Third Wind has been declared the winner of the European Breeders' Fund Matchbook VIP "National Hunt" Novices' Handicap Hurdle Final pic.twitter.com/XWBm4v3mF6

— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) 9 March 2019

For the second year running, last year’s runner-up Call Me Lord (remains on 154) was much the best horse at the weights off top weight in the Imperial Cup. He found a couple of light-weights too good this time, the mare Malaya (138 from 135) surviving a bad mistake two out to foil the hat-trick bid of novice Monsieur Lecoq (135 from 131). The winner’s penalty will get her into Friday’s County Hurdle if connections opt to turn her out again quickly for the bonus on offer. The runner-up remains one to keep on the right side, probably paying in the end for going for home sooner than ideal.

The other good jumping card of the weekend was at Naas on Sunday where there were some chase performances of note. Grand National entry Pairofbrowneyes (152 from 146) won the Leinster National for the second year running (race run at Gowran last year) and led home a one-two-three for Willie Mullins. He’s not proven beyond three miles though, having been an early casualty when favourite for last year’s Irish Grand National which is another option for him again. Beaten a head in last year’s Irish National, Isleofhopendreams (old rating of 142 restored) was runner-up again here too and ran much his best race of the season ahead of a probable return to Fairyhouse. There was also a smart performance on the card from the likeable Kaiser Black (153p from 149p) to win the Grade 3 Naas Directors Plate Novices’ Chase. His only defeat in his last four starts came when chasing home La Bague Au Roi in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Festival. Earlier Chacun Pour Soi (148P from 125p) looked a most exciting prospect for Mullins when making a winning Irish debut by more than thirty lengths in the two-mile beginners chase - it was the French import's first start for three years.

Now is that a Cheltenham omen? It's a 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins as Pairofbrowneyes takes today's big pot in Ireland by winning the Leinster National

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— Racing TV (@RacingTV) 10 March 2019

The Lincoln Trial at Wolverhampton was a sign that the Flat turf season isn’t far away. Zwayyan (110 from 105) ran a career best to make it two from two in all-weather starts, though he’s likely to prove vulnerable to less exposed sorts in competitive turf handicaps. The listed Lady Wulfruna Stakes on the same card went to the senior runner Above The Rest (117 from 111+), last year’s Chipchase Stakes winner returning to form after failing to figure in a couple of starts in Dubai.

Talking of Dubai, it was ‘Super Saturday’ at Meydan with important trials for all the big races on World Cup night at the end of the month. Indeed, last year’s Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (126) made his reappearance in Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge but proved no match for the much-improved Capezzano (124 from 119) who completed a Carnival hat-trick with a nine and a half length victory from the front. Another wide-margin on the dirt was Muntazah (125 from 119), better than ever at the age of six, who broke the track record for a mile when winning the Group 3 Burj Nahaar by ten lengths. He could bid to go one better than last year when he was runner-up in the Godolphin Mile, though the World Cup is an option for him too.

WOW, what a performance!

CAPEZZANO bolts up in Round 3 of the Al Maktoum Challenge Sponsored By Emirates Airline for Mickael Barzalona and Salem Bin Ghadayer#SuperSaturday #DWCCarnival pic.twitter.com/VsNvCmqDEU

— Meydan Racing (@MeydanRacing) 9 March 2019

Thunder Snow’s defeat apart, there were some good results on the card for Godolphin, though neither Blue Point (129) nor Old Persian (120) had to better their existing ratings to win the Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint and Dubai City of Gold respectively. Last year’s King’s Stand winner Blue Point looks the one to beat in the Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night; he’d had to be withdrawn at the start of that contest last year. Dream Castle (124 from 123) was another of Godolphin’s winners, and improved a bit more to complete a course-and-distance hat-trick in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta, though is likely to meet stronger international opposition in the Dubai Turf later in the month. Also of note was Godolphin’s ex-French colt Wootton (122 from 118+) in second. He went a long way to confirming the promise of his first start for Charlie Appleby last month when he’d met trouble in running.