Review of the day

No joy today with the 3 tips: though two of them ran very well in defeat…

First up was Shadows Lengthen.

Things weren’t looking too good when he made a shocking mistake at the third fence. However, his rider managed to recover he situation well and he travelled nicely through the race.

That said, the first two seemed to have got away form him on the run to the final fence. However, with them weakening on the run in, he produced a sustained finish and ultimately only lost out by 2 short heads in the 3 way photo.

Despite that, he won’t go down as an ‘unlucky’ loser, as he only touched 2.2 IR !!

Next it was Cootamundra, who ran with real credit in the novice chase at Leopardstown.

He was ridden precisely as I expected: settled at the back, jumping like a cat; and slowly creeping into the race.

I must admit that as he leapt the third last fence, I had real hope that he was going to deliver.

However, he seemed to run into a few traffic issues that disturbed his rhythm – and off the final bend it soon became clear that he was playing for third place at best.
Alas, his stamina emptied up the home straight and he eventually finished an honourable fifth.

Based on this run, he needs to be dropped back in trip by half a mile – and if he is, it will take a very good one to beat him.

The sole disappointing run of the day came from Red Rouble.

I really fancied him: in part because he has been in such good form; but also because I felt the favourite would be vulnerable at the finish…

Unfortunately despite being really well backed, Red Rouble ran no sort of a race and was pulled up, What made it particularly disappointing, was that I was right in my assessment of Ballywatt.

He cruised up along side Tafikia – but found very little and was easily shrugged aside.

He certainly isn’t one to follow – though neither is Red Rouble based on today’s performance…

Aside from the tips, I really must mention what is probably the most exciting race I’ve seen all season.

The Lexus chase threatened to be a thriller – and it didn’t disappoint !

Flemenstar cruised through the race, making high class chasers look like selling platers – but having taken up the running on the approach to the final fence, he emptied.

That looked to have let in First Lieutenant, but he has only a little more stamina that Felmenstar, and with the two of them going up and down on the spot, it was left to  Tidal Bay to come through for a most improbable victory.

Hot on his heals was Sir Des Champs - and if his fencing had been just a little better, it is hard to think that he wouldn’t have been victorious.
Not that I want to take anything away from the winner. It was a magnificent performance from a horse who will be 12 in a few days time. It just makes you wonder what he night have achieved if he had been with Paul Nicholls throughout his career.

Finally, Voler La Vedette again ran disappointingly in the Christmas hurdle and I wonder how many more times we will see her on a racecourse.

She owes nobody anything and I for one would fully understand if her connections decided that now was a good time to pull stumps with her.

The race was won by Monksland who showed a really good attitude to get the better of Zaidpour, after the whole field had struggled once again to reel in the front running Whatuthink.
The winner will doubtless have his followers for the World Hurdle – though I am unlikely to be amongst them…

TVB.