Ratings Update: Winter Escape a spring contender

Saturday’s action was headlined by Kempton Park and the listed Unibet Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle, which was won by Big Time Dancer (up 8 lb to 129), who was representing the Jennie Candlish team. He’s proven to be a revelation for his small yard so far this term, taking another step forward from his win at Doncaster the previous month to take this, despite being in a much deeper race and plenty up in the weights. This was solid handicap form, and considering that Big Time Dancer won cosily, he is likely to continue to give a good account at this level, particularly in similarly quick conditions.

Earlier on the card, Top Notch (remains on 166) made a winning return to fences in the listed 32Red Casino Chase, defeating Black Corton (remains on 155) by five lengths. Top Notch caught the eye when finishing third on his reappearance in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last month – an outing he usually needs – and confirmed that he retains all of his ability now back chasing. He’s a top-class performer over fences when putting everything together, and is due to head to the Ascot Chase next, a race which is likely to tell us more about his Ryanair Chase credentials.

Warwick also hosted a good quality card on Saturday, with two graded contests, beginning with the Grade 2 Leamington Novice Hurdle, a race which has produced a couple of smart types in recent years, including the late Willoughby Court. The exciting prospect Birchdale was a notable non-runner and, as such, the race wasn’t a vintage renewal in ratings terms. It was the Dan Skelton team that came out on top with Beakstown (up 11 lb to 137p), who produced a useful effort to see off the challenge of Stoney Mountain. He would be well worth his place at Cheltenham should he indeed take his chance there, but he is a cracking long-term prospect, and his trainer suggested that he isn’t in any rush with him – an approach which could pay dividends down the line.

The powerful Beakstown is a class apart for the Skeltons in the Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick

Results ➡ https://t.co/7iJOPsdIyZ pic.twitter.com/P1Ukx9RVjO

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 12, 2019

The feature race at Warwick was the Grade 3 Classic Handicap Chase, which, rather unusually compared to previous years, was staged on good ground. It was an evenly run race and, as such, the form can be taken at face value, with Impulsive Star (up 5 lb to 136, loses Timeform squiggle) coming out on top. Reapplied cheekpieces seemed to do the trick with him, as he improved to record his first chase win and land a big pot in the process. He’s reportedly on course for another tilt at the National Hunt Chase, a race in which he was an honourable but distant fourth last year, though other long-distance handicaps may be more suitable for him.

Each of the first five from the Classic Chase can have their performances viewed in a positive light, particularly the runner-up, Calett Mad (up 3 lb to 145), who’s really starting to come into his own in long distance chases. His effort to get into contention from a long way back possibly took its toll in the closing stages this time around, but he’s a relative youngster for this sphere as a seven-year-old, and should remain a fixture in this division for a while to come.

At first glance, it seemed as if it would be the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle that would provide the biggest indicator for the spring festivals at Punchestown on Sunday, considering that four of the previous five winners of that race had gone off as favourite for the Supreme around two months later, but as it transpired, it was a race from earlier on the card in which the standout performance was produced.

That run came from Winter Escape (up 7 lb to 156p), who was friendless in the betting after 10 weeks off, being sent off a 12/1 chance, but produced a smart effort to beat the well-supported A Plus Tard (remains on 139p) by just over two lengths in the Grade 3 Total Event Rental Novice Chase. He has improved with each of his runs since joining Aidan Anthony Howard in the summer, and this was one of the best performances in novice chases on either side of the Irish Sea all season. He’s lightly raced for an eight-year-old, with just 11 career starts to date, and we’ll likely see him in a Grade 1 contest before too long.

Winter Escape makes it three on the bounce as he lowers the colours of A Plus Tard in the Total Event Rental Novice Chase at Punchestown

Results ➡ https://t.co/7iJOPsdIyZ pic.twitter.com/4MTwQlLl4H

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 13, 2019

The four previous winners of the Moscow Flyer who were subsequently sent off as favourites for the Supreme were all owned by Rich Ricci and trained by Willie Mullins, though with no Ricci runner this time around, it was Gordon Elliott who prevailed, with the enterprisingly-ridden Felix Desjy (up 14 lb to 139) coming out on top. Soon well clear under Sean Flanagan, he was driven out after the last for a five-length success (Jetez second, remains on 138), and whilst that was a useful performance, this renewal didn’t appear to be one of the stronger ones of recent years. Felix Desjy was sixth in the Champion Bumper last season, and he will need to find more if he is to be a serious challenger for the Supreme, which is reported to be his target.

The penultimate race at Punchestown, a maiden hurdle, was won by Vision d’Honneur (up 4 lb to 121p), who has subsequently been supported for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. He forged clear of another well-regarded type, hurdling debutant Elixir d’Ainay (115p), and looks sure to progress and win more race in this sphere, for all that he could be suited by further than two miles in time.