Neil Morrice has a look at a few UK horses’ dark horses from Hansard and Kempton Park.
DARK HORSES LATEST
HANSARD, Kempton Park, November 24th
HANSARD was the last of four to finish in this beginners’ chase, but his race effectively ended at the fifth fence when he was bumped in mid air and lost ten lengths. While the incident didn’t appear to affect his jumping for the remainder of the contest, he had to use valuable energy to get back in touch with the other three runners, meaning that he had little left for the finish. Gary Moore has a good prospect on his hands in this former Irish based gelding, and it would be folly to write him off.
SIZABLE SAM, Exeter, November 23rd
I was taken with the performance of SIZABLE SAM in this handicap chase in which he was held up in characteristic fashion before making a move in the long home straight. He picked off his rivals one by one, moved into fourth before three out but then got tired on the run in. Jeremy Scott will likely be pleased with the effort of his injury prone gelding who though unable to scale the heights promised when he was a multiple winner two seasons ago, could still have races in him, as he’s dropped to a workable mark.
LUCKY PLACE, Ascot, November 21st
Not far short of the top level in staying hurdles, LUCKY PLACE showed a real economy of effort in his jumping technique on this first venture over fences. He turned for home with a two length cushion on his opponents and looked to be sitting pretty, only to suddenly stop as if shot. It transpired the long odds-on favourite was carrying an infection, and that needs remembering when he runs again because he can quickly set the record straight.
VINCENZO, Cheltenham, November 15th
Sam Thomas laid VINCENZO out for this Paddy Power Gold Cup feature, with the gelding attracting a bundle of ante post market support. He jumped well and only on the run in had to give best to the strong finish of Panic Attack. The long run from the second last to the last, owing to an omitted fence, might have suited the winner better than him, and connections can look forward to a return to Prestbury Park if opting for the big handicap chase over the same trip at the December meeting.
C’EST DIFFERENT, Market Rasen, November 26th
C’EST DIFFERENT has an unblemished record of three from three since going handicapping, and in completing the hat-trick had no problem whatsoever in defying a 17lb rise in the weights. He put this Pertemps Qualifier to bed with some accurate jumping and an impressive turn of foot and can win again to solidify his prospects of contesting the Final. He’s very progressive, loves his racing and is one to follow until beaten.
