Ratings Update: Easter Special

The racing net was cast wide over the Bank Holiday weekend, providing everything from Group 1 sprints at Meydan right through to the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse, not forgetting the culmination of the all-weather season, All-Weather Championships Finals day at Lingfield on Good Friday.

Flat

Over £1 million spread across seven races on the All-Weather Championships Final card made for plenty of competitive action, though the first race, the Fillies’ And Mares’, lost much of its interest when the odds-on favourite Cold As Ice went wrong in the closing stages (subsequently retired), meaning that the likable Volunteer Point did not have to improve on her best to run out a two-and-a-quarter-length winner (remains Timeform-rated 108). The winning margin was the same in the Sprint, where Lancelot du Lac (Timeform-rated 121) was some way below his best (had to work hard to get across from a difficult draw and then was perhaps too free) which paved the way for Alben Star (now also rated 121) to record a career-best and his first victory since winning the same race in 2014.

Moonrise Landing’s class allowed her to win the Marathon despite a troubled passage, and she may well have more to offer, Timeform-rated 110+ and well worth a chance to confirm her all-weather progress on turf (potential Cup horse in the making if able to do so). Pat Smullen gave Captain Joy a copybook ride in the All-Weather Mile, but he did not need to improve on his best to beat Sovereign Debt into second, with that one looking unfortunate – though less so than when filling the same place in the race last year – after conceding first run to the winner.

Without the Group 1-winning Tryster to contend with in Britain this winter, Grendisar has benefitted enormously, and he duly added the Easter Classic to the Winter Derby to record a valuable double on Friday. Seemingly still an improving horse at the age of six, Grendisar is Timeform-rated 118 and will continue to remain of serious interest on the all-weather.

Though all nine runners finished in a heap in the Three-Year-Old Sprint, which was next on the card, Wolowitz was a worthy winner as he took his all-weather record to four from four. Due to the way the race developed he didn’t have to improve on his best to win (Timeform-rated 107), but he may well do better still in future, which looks likely to be in Hong Kong according to connections.

The first three home in the Three-Year-Old Mile had all contested the messy Spring Cup, won by Haalick, though it was his turn to meet some trouble this time, and he was not seen to best effect, and may well do better under different circumstances (remains Timeform-rated 106p). That said, the winner, Sea of Flames (104), was full-value for his one-length victory, and now being a winner of three of his five starts, could be one to keep an eye on back on turf, where he should prove as effective.

Kempton’s Rosebery Handicap is normally one of the most competitive all-weather races ran at the track, but it was blown apart on Saturday by the impressive Barsanti, who is now Timeform-rated 106p (from 94p going in to the race), and, given that he does not yet look the finished article, is an exciting prospect going forward. Though Dutch Uncle was well beaten into second, he still improved on his best (now rated 94), and is one to be interested in from this sort of mark.

Unsurprisingly, there was little to note on the turf in Britain and Ireland over the long weekend, though the very smart US sprinter Bobby’s Kitten (winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint in 2014) made a highly encouraging debut for Dermot Weld in the listed contest that opened the card at Cork on Monday. Bobby’s Kitten’s ability to deal with the vastly different ground means he could be a potential contender for some top-level sprints in Europe this season (Timeform-rated 120).

Note: A one-off Dubai World Cup night update can be read by clicking here.

Jumps

It was a relatively low-key weekend in Britain over jumps, though Haydock’s Saturday card did throw up an impressive winner in Ballybolley, who produced a much improved jumping display to belatedly get off the mark over fences. Now Timeform-rated 143p, it is worth noting that his best performances both in bumpers and over hurdles came at the Aintree Festival (won a listed bumper and was fifth in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices Hurdle) and he could be interesting if dropping in trip for the Red Rum at that meeting this season.

There was plenty of graded action at Fairyhouse’s Easter meeting (which concludes on Tuesday) and there were some notable British raids, including Emily Gray, who didn’t need to improve on her best to land the Grade 3 Mares’ Chase on Sunday, and Kylemore Lough, who took the step up to the highest level in his stride when winning the Ryanair Gold Cup (beating Outlander by a length) and providing a first Grade 1 win for his trainer Kerry Lee. Kylemore Lough – now Timeform-rated 154p – will reportedly head back to Ireland for the Champion Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival, where he will likely find an on-song Douvan (168p) too hot to handle. British-trained Value At Risk finally made his breakthrough at graded level at Fairyhouse on Monday, and progressed again from his handicap second at Haydock in February to produce a career-best effort. Though he is now Timeform-rated 147 over hurdles, the feeling remains that his best will come over fences, which he will surely tackle again next season (fell both starts in novice chases this season).

Though the Irish Grand National belonged to Gigginstown and Rogue Angel, who is now Timeform-rated 146 (cautious view taken given the potential improvers in the field such as Bonny Kate and Another Hero failed to complete) and whose fantastic attitude would stand him in good stead for a crack at the Aintree Grand National next season, J.P McManus enjoyed a good weekend which began with his new purchase Jer’s Girl, who won the opening Grade 1 contest in impressive fashion. Jer’s Girl – Timeform-rated 132+ – didn’t have to improve on her best to win this, but the way she drew clear in the closing stages means that this may not prove her limit, and she will head to Punchestown as an interesting contender for either the Mares Novice or the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle. McManus also tasted graded success on Sunday with Sutton Place, who is now Timeform-rated 139p, and is a very exciting novice chasing prospect for next season, while Slow Motion (132p) was an easy winner of a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle and will have claims to Grade 1 success at Punchestown, as will Sandra Hughes’ Acapella Bourgeois (135) who didn’t need improve to win the competitive Grade 2 Agnelli Motor Park Novice Hurdle.