Ratings Update: Warwick, Kempton and Punchestown

Warwick’s Classic Chase card produced the winners of the Grand National and Baring Bingham last season and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Leamington Hurdle winner Mr Whipped (up 8 lb to 142p) go close in a novice event at the Festival after he overcame a step up in class in good style on Saturday. He was still showing signs of inexperience, too, travelling strongly for a long way but not doing much once he hit the front, which allowed runner-up Paisley Park (140p from 128p) to get within a length. The runner-up also showed signs of greenness in the race and both look smart long-term prospects. The third Knight In Dubai (134p) didn’t see his race out as well as the first two but showed plenty of promise, especially with an eye on dropping in trip.

Nico de Boinville helps Nicky Henderson to another winner as Mr Whipped takes the Grade Two Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick

Results ▶️ https://t.co/7iJOPsvjqx pic.twitter.com/T1gvhnXORF

— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) January 13, 2018

Not a classic Classic Chase

One For Arthur was an impressive winner of the Classic Chase last year and though the race was won by a similar margin this time around it is unlikely that the unpredictable Milansbar (144§) will be of nearly as much interest after a rise in the weights. Milansbar had been in the process of running poorly when unseating his rider in the Welsh National on the previous Saturday but proved a different proposition entirely in a change of headgear and with Bryony Frost taking over in the saddle. He’s far from certain to be in the same form next time, and the third and fourth are perhaps of more obvious interest. Missed Approach (136+) was well backed but ultimately shaped as thought this wasn’t enough of a test, while Crosspark (135) raced freely and was simply found out by the trip.

Parfois progresses again

Other performances of note on the Warwick card came from Ms Parfois (up 5 lb to 141), who pressed again taking on geldings for the first time and completed a hat-trick in good style in the listed Hampton Court Novices’s Chase. She looks worth trying in an even higher grade. In the bumper Bannerkingrebel (103p) was several classes better than the opposition and landed a gamble in style. Historically this hasn’t been the strongest race, but there’s no real reason to doubt the form at this stage.

Henderson Kempton treble

The Lanzarote card at Kempton kicked off with another easy victory for Redicean (up 5 lb to 140p) who followed up from his C&D success in similarly impressive style, looking a serious contender for top honours in the juvenile division this season. Chef des Obeaux (137p) was also a wide margin winner of the next, a three-mile novices’ hurdle race, and was the first of three winners on the card for Nicky Henderson, which also included William Henry (up 6 lb to 149) in the Lanzarote itself. The winner was returning to hurdles after a poor debut over fences and immediately got back on the up under the excellent James Bowen, winning a race packed with unexposed and interesting sorts and recording the best timefigure of the week (over hurdles). He’ll probably stay three miles given how he saw things out and won’t be counted out of a similar handicap even after a rise in the weights. Henderson’s Kempton treble was completed in the final race by Jenkins (139), who finally put it all together over hurdles in first-time blinkers and under more positive tactics. He has the potential to win more handicaps but that may well depend on whether he's suddenly reliant on an easy lead.

Patiently better than ever

The performance of the weekend in terms of ratings goes to Waiting Patiently (up 6 lb to 166p), who maintained his perfect record over fences in the listed chase at Kempton, putting up an effort that was bordering on top-class and looking a serious contender for top honours (also recorded the joint-best timefigure of the week over fences). He’ll reportedly take in the Grade 1 Ascot Chase next but any Cheltenham targets will be ground dependant. Quicker ground wouldn’t bother connections of Fountains Windfall (151p) based on his hurdles form from last season and he gained a deserved success in a handicap at Kempton on Saturday, having fell (when going best) in the Kauto Star over Christmas. He’s not one to forget about when he returns to graded company.

Five out of five for Waiting Patiently as he wins the 32Red Casino Chase @kemptonparkrace pic.twitter.com/dgg2RqgZ38

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 13, 2018

Getabird Supreme at Punchestown

Two graded races at Punchestown on Saturday and two winners for Willie Mullins, the first being Invitation Only (up 1 lb to 149p), who brushed aside the promising Koshari (143p) and The Storyteller (143p) in good style. He wouldn’t need to improve much to go close in an average renewal of the JLT. The main headlines, however, will have surrounded Getabird, who became the latest Mullins/Rich Ricci novice to win the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer (the others being Vautour, Douvan and Min). Getabird (now 148p) achieved a similar level of form as the first two in winning by nine lengths from a below-par Mengli Khan (down 5 lb to 147), a performance that was the second best of the week on the clock over hurdles.