Ratings Update: Matterhorn can scale more heights

The Easter weekend was a typically busy one for racing fans, with eight meetings across the UK and Ireland on Monday alone. The traditional highlight for many is the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse – more on that later – but we’re going to start this week’s edition of the Ratings Update by casting our minds further back and reflecting on the best performances at Newmarket’s Craven meeting, including two that have had significant ramifications in the betting for the opening classics of the season.

Admittedly, the form of Tuesday’s Nell Gwyn Stakes looks solid rather than strong, with the level of the placed horses fairly well-established, but that's not to say that it didn't produce a genuine 1000 Guineas contender in the shape of the winner Qabala (up 14 lb to 107p), who impressed with the ground she made up in the final two furlongs, in a race that was only run at an ordinary gallop. That was just her second start, having beaten a whole host of subsequent winners on her debut over the same C&D last September, and she is definitely one for the shortlist in an open-looking Guineas (now favourite at a general 7/2), with further improvement on the cards.

There was also a pair of listed races for three-year-olds on Tuesday’s card, with Shine So Bright (up 8 lb to 113) improving upon his useful juvenile form to win the Free Handicap, before Kick On (up 7 lb to 116p) demonstrated a likeable attitude to make a successful return in the Feilden Stakes, a race that has produced the likes of Golden Horn and Intello in the last half-dozen years. There have been lesser renewals in that time, too, but this year’s winner appeals as being well up to scratch, with connections suggesting that the Poule d'Essai des Poulains may be his next target.

The star performance on Wednesday’s card came in the Craven Stakes, with Skardu (up 14 lb to 112p) looking a good prospect in winning on just his second start. It should be pointed out that he was one of the few principals to enjoy a clear passage in a messy and rather unsatisfactory renewal – one for which the form can be rated only average at best – but Skardu still impressed with the way in which he improved from rear, always in control after quickening to lead inside the final furlong. William Haggas’ charge needs to improve somewhere in region of 10 lb to play a leading role in the 2000 Guineas itself, but he is sure to progress again and more than entitled to take his chance in what now looks an open renewal in the absence of Too Darn Hot.

Still unbeaten! Skardu lands the Craven Stakes for @the_doyler and William Haggas at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/Vo3nsEvIiL

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 17, 2019

There was a 66/1-shock in the Abernant Stakes, with Keystroke (up 1 lb to 116) matching the pick of his all-weather exploits for his previous yard to make it two wins from three starts since joining Stuart Williams, albeit in a race where things unfolded perfectly for him. He won't be that easy to place now, but, even if he doesn't do anything more this season, he's already overachieved. Jalmoud (up 4 lb to 94p) and UAE Jewel (103p), on the other hand, look better long-term prospects having shed their maiden tags on the same card, the latter at the first time of asking; both are bred in the purple and their connections are entitled to be thinking of Derby trials next-time-out.

Roger Varian, the trainer of both Qabala and UAE Jewel, enjoyed further success on Thursday, with Zabeel Prince (up 4 lb to 122) proving better than ever to make a winning return to action in the Earl of Sefton Stakes. Lightly raced for his age, the fact he proved so effective on his first start beyond a mile opens up options for the rest of this season, but dropping back to that trip for the Lockinge is likely to be on his agenda first; he was amiss when well held in last year's race and would certainly be an interesting contender if taking his chance.

Moving on to Friday, Lingfield played host to its sixth All-Weather Championships Finals Day, and judging by some of the performances on the card, there are grounds to suggest that it was comfortably the best yet. For example, the pair who pulled clear in the Mile event, Oh This Is Us (remains on 119) and Indyco (up 7 lb to 117), both posted efforts that would have seen them win any previous running since its inception, while Kachy (remains on 124) justified his position as the best all-weather sprinter around in the UK with a typically dominant performance in the Sprint. It will be interesting to see whether he can be any more competitive against the likes of Battaash and Blue Point on turf this time around, with another success at Chester in May looking a formality in the interim.

Even better still, the card also witnessed an Easter Classic that produced a high-class performance, a rare thing indeed for the all-weather in Britain. In the event, hot favourite Wissahickon (down 1 lb to 124) didn't show his true colours (not helped by his wide trip), but, even had he been on song, he'd have struggled to contain Matterhorn (up 2 lb to 125), who blew the field apart by seven lengths with a most impressive display. He needs to prove that he can fully translate that form to turf, but there's no reason why that shouldn't be the case, related to plenty of turf winners, and he's more than earned his seat at the top table, not one to take lightly in Group 1 company this summer.

Matterhorn shocks Wissahickon in the Betway Easter Classic All-Weather Middle Distance Championships Conditions Stakes @LingfieldPark #AWChamps pic.twitter.com/TjG7iybkqJ

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 19, 2019

Matterhorn’s trainer, Mark Johnston, also won the Queen’s Cup at Musselburgh on Saturday courtesy of Austrian School (up 8 lb to 120), who produced a very smart performance to run away with what had looked a competitive handicap. He's unlikely to be contesting handicaps for much longer on that evidence, though he's presumably got an appointment with the Chester Cup first and will almost certainly have a favourite's chance under a penalty, with the half-mile longer trip likely to suit.

Finally, as far as the Flat is concerned, Agrotera (111p from 111) also identified herself as a filly to follow this year, when winning at listed level at the fourth attempt at Kempton on Saturday, doing so with a bit in hand. She's a smart filly with more to offer and well worth a try in pattern company, with the Princess Elizabeth at Epsom an option, or even the Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot given her success in the Sandringham last year.

Jumps

The National Hunt season in Britain is set to reach its conclusion at Sandown on Saturday, but Ireland still has its biggest week of the year to look forward to, with the Punchestown Festival set to get underway only seven days from now. Willie Mullins looks almost certain to be crowned Ireland’s champion trainer for the twelfth year in a row when the meeting reaches its conclusion, with the largest chunk of his prize money total (€4,273,585 at the time of writing) coming courtesy of his first Irish Grand National success at Fairyhouse on Monday.

A hugely competitive renewal of Ireland’s most valuable handicap chase, the strong gallop ensured that only a handful of runners remained in contention at the fourth last, with the well-backed Burrows Saint (up 7 lb to 155p) posting a performance up there with the very best this race has produced in recent memory – his rating has only been bettered by Our Duke and Bellshill since the turn of the millennium, and while stamina is clearly his forte, he’s by no means a sluggard and will be well worth his place at a higher level next time (open to further progress). For good measure, Mullins also saddled three of the four who chased Burrows Saint home, with the third Acapella Bourgeois (remains on 155) producing a big effort, too, on his first try at a marathon trip, confirming that he's right back to his best after a season in the wilderness.

Burrows Saint is all class under Ruby Walsh in the @BoyleSports Irish Grand National in a 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins! @Fairyhouse

Results ➡ https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/jkMroWTpso

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 22, 2019

Also on Monday, Jett (up 6 lb to 151) and the veteran Rashaan (146§ from 144§) proved as good as ever to win Grade 2 events, while Mullins was also celebrating after the success of French Made (up 17 lb to 135p) in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle. One of the least exposed in the field, she improved another chunk to turn around Cheltenham form with a couple who had finished in front of her in the Triumph, and should not be taken lightly if making the quick turnaround for next week’s 4-y-o Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Honeysuckle (remains on 140p) and Voix du Reve (156p from 150) could also be Punchestown-bound, having recorded their first Grade 1 successes at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The former, who was sadly forced to miss Cheltenham, looked a mare well out of the ordinary when landing the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Championship Final, quickening clear in the straight to take her record over hurdles to four wins from four starts. Clearly the best in the division, she looks one of the best non-Mullins trained prospects of her sex seen in recent times and will hopefully get the chance to take on the males before too long, with the prospect of more to come.

Meanwhile, Voix du Reve followed in the footsteps of subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo by winning the Ryanair Gold Cup for Willie Mullins, asserting before the last and ultimately well on top at the finish. He remains open to more improvement at around this trip over fences, though the only opportunities for novice chasers at Grade 1 level at Punchestown are at two and three miles.