Ratings Update: Epsom, Sandown and the Punchestown Festival

Flat

A week-long Ratings Update for a change, starting with Wednesday’s Derby Trial at Epsom. This looked a really interesting renewal, not least with the inclusion of a John Gosden-trained pair who both came off the back of impressive maiden wins; Cracksman (up 2 lb to 108P) was clearly favoured of the duo and, though he was made to work hard to justify short odds by a useful and race-fit sort in Permian (up 1 lb to 106), he was clear value for extra having conceded first run in a steadily-run race. He'll reportedly head for another trial next, either the Dante or the Chester Vase, and he remains an exciting prospect, one that is likely to be well suited by a mile and a half when the time comes. Third home Bay of Poets (up from 95+ to 103+) settled better than was often the case last year, while fourth Tartini (remains on 103P) wasn’t suited by this muddling affair and he remains capable of a lot better, not in the Derby but, even at this early stage in the season, very much appealing as an ideal St Leger candidate.

Friday’s card at Sandown saw three impressive winners of the three-year-old handicaps, namely Atty Persse (up to 101p from 90P), Jumira Bridge (up 9 lb to 101p) and Flood Warning (up 10 lb to 95). Ulysses (124p from 121+), one of several members of Timeform’s Horses To Follow for the 2017 Flat season to have already won this term, saw off Deauville (up 3 lb to 122) in an excellent renewal of the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes, while the Frankel colt Cunco (up 2 lb to 107) looked more exposed than his rivals ahead of the Classic Trial Stakes but managed to gain a first win since his maiden success nonetheless. Runner-up Intern took the biggest leap forward - up 13 lb to 108p – on his first start for Ralph Beckett. The Group 2 Mile Stakes had a substandard look to it, and, without meaning to crab winner Sovereign Debt (unchanged on 118) too much, it looks form to treat with a little caution. Having said that, the winner is enjoying an Indian summer to his distinguished career and deserves a tilt at the highest grade, though would need to be supplemented for the Queen Anne (the Sussex an option later on).

The weekend’s action now. Home of the Brave (up 1 lb to 120) won the listed King Richard III Stakes at Leicester on Saturday with a bit up his sleeve, while Somehow (unchanged on 114) managed to land the listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at Gowran on Sunday despite having to pick her way through some traffic problems. She will continue to give a good account, though she does seem to be ground dependent, largely kept away from anything faster than good. Stablemate Minding made light work of her three rivals in the Group 2 Mooresbridge Stakes at Naas on Monday; she will take all the beating wherever she goes, the Tattersalls Gold Cup being the next logical step before Royal Ascot. Rehana found a bit of improvement to see off two older rivals in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes, while Horses To Follow member Doctor Geoff returned as an 8/1 winner of the listed Tetrarch Stakes, having been twice that price in the morning.

Jumps

Five days of Punchestown now, beginning with the Champion Novice Hurdle; grab a cup of tea - or something stronger - first. This looked an up-to-scratch Grade 1 on paper, featuring the 1-2 from the Supreme, but Labaik (now 159§ after subsequently finishing fourth in Friday’s Champion Hurdle in a first-time visor) disgraced himself again and Melon (down 8 lb and loses his ‘p’ on 150) was undone by tactics in a race notable for the second and third taking each other on from halfway, rather setting things up for a winner Cilaos Emery (144) who was held onto; it’s form to treat with caution. Champion Chase winner Fox Norton (unchanged on 170) completed the Cheltenham/Punchestown double and confirmed himself a tip-top chaser in lowering the colours of Un de Sceaux (down 2 lb to 169), not needing to quite match his Aintree form but winning in spite of the drop back in trip. Disko (up 3 lb to 157) gained a second success in Grade 1 company when winning the Champion Novice Chase, beating Anibale Fly (also up 3 lb, to 151) by a comfortable five lengths. This opens up the possibility of renewing rivalry with Our Duke - who he beat in the Flogas in February - when stepping into open company at three miles and beyond next season, and his sound jumping should ensure he at least remains competitive at the highest level.

Champagne Classic (up 4 lb to 147) – described by his outgoing owner as “probably the worst horse we own” following his win in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham – made a mockery of those comments when beating fellow Cheltenham Festival winners Penhill and Presenting Percy in the Grade 1 Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle last Wednesday, while Fayonagh (up from 115+ to 118) completed a similar festival double when landing the Champion Irish National Hunt Flat race. However, the finish of the week came in the Punchestown Gold Cup. There may only have been six runners but Sizing John, Djakadam and Coneygree served up a fantastic finish – one that got commentator Dessie Scahill in a muck-sweat – with Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John (170), crucially the only one to avoid an error at either of the last two fences, recording a short-head success. His performance was one of sheer grit and determination and helped him complete a famous four-timer, in the process becoming the first horse to win the Irish Gold Cup, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Punchestown Gold Cup in the same season. Djakadam (169) found just one too good in this race for the third year in succession, though things might well have been different on this occasion had he jumped the last more fluently, though he still made the winner pull out all the stops in the aftermath. Coneygree (168) produced a performance right up there with his very best after five months off and would have given the first two even more to think about had he not made an uncharacteristic error just as things were starting to get serious; he's a fragile sort but clearly still every bit of the top-class staying chaser he looked when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a novice in 2015.

Other feature-race highlights of the week included a really good renewal of the Champion Stayers’ Hurdle, all bar one of the first six home from the Cheltenham equivalent turning up as well as the Champion Hurdle fourth, and it produced a thrilling finish, Unowhatimeanharry (up 1 lb to 166) denying Nichols Canyon (remains on 166) on the nod, the pair coming a long way clear in the straight off what was just a modest gallop. Champion Hurdle fourth Footpad (159) ran respectably at this 5f longer trip, not quite seeing it out having briefly looked set to play an even bigger part turning for home. Willie Mullins had more luck later in the day as Great Field (up 9 lb to 170p) maintained his unbeaten record over fences in the Ryanair Novice Chase in dominant fashion, confirming himself one of the best novice chasers seen out this season; he will be well worth his place in top open company in 2017/18, as will his young jockey Jody McGarvey who has ridden him on the last four occasions.

While Labaik consented to jump off in Friday’s Champion Hurdle, he could only manage fourth behind Wicklow Brave (up 6 lb to 162§) who provided Willie Mullins not only with a seventh winner of the race in the last eight years, but a significant strike in his (ultimately successful) quest to retain the Irish trainers’ championship. My Tent or Yours (163) ran up to his best to go one place closer than in the race last year, this the sixth time he has finished runner-up at this level since he last got his head in front. Arctic Fire (down 2 lb to 163) finished third. Mullins was celebrating again 35 minutes later when Bacardys (up 9 lb to 155) prevailed from Aintree winner Finian’s Oscar (up to 155 from 150p) in a tight finish to the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles.

Evens favourite Apple’s Jade (remains on 158) made no mistake in Saturday’s Mares Champion Hurdle. She stood out a long way on form and made the most of the good opportunity six weeks on from a hard-fought win at Cheltenham; she'll stay further than this and it would make sense to plan her next campaign around the Stayers' Hurdle. In the other Grade 1 on the card, Bapaume (up to 146 from 144) resumed his progress to win the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle by a length and a quarter from Landofhopeandglory (remains on 143).

Saturday also saw the British jumps season draw to a conclusion at Sandown Park. Arkle winner Altior (175p) rounded off a perfect first campaign over fences in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase with arguably his best performance yet, his record having more style than substance to it simply due to being so superior to those he's had to race against. His return, presumably in the Tingle Creek, will be one of the most eagerly awaited of the autumn; an on-song Douvan or other exciting novices from this campaign such as Great Field and Min hold out the hope of a superior, competitive 2m chase division in 2017/18. Runner-up Special Tiara  (remains on 166), winner of the Champion Chase at Cheltenham, probably wasn't quite at his best, though, in truth, there was little he could have done to have resisted the winner; he was simply outclassed. Elsewhere, L’Ami Serge (158§) put his best foot forward in the Select Hurdle, while the grand servant Menorah, winner of the 2010 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, was retired with a rating of 168 after winning a remarkable fourth Oaksey Chase. The bet365 Gold Cup went to 40/1 outsider Henllan Harri (up 4 lb to 127) who was rated inferior even to Jack High, Timeform's previous lowest-rated winner this century. The field lacked both quality and - not for the first time in recent years - quantity, 13 runners the fewest to take part since 2007.