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Pattern Race Review: Harry a World Hurdle Diamond
/ Rory Delargy / 24 November 2009 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet
Rarely have we been blessed by such an array of jumping talent outside of a major Festival as we were on Saturday. Most of the headlines have been stolen by the monumental clash between Kauto Star and Imperial Commander in the Betfair Chase, but our man was taken by a number of other performances.
I wasn't overly impressed by Timmy Murphy's ride on Starluck in the Tune In To Timeform Radio Hurdle, although I wouldn't attribute his defeat to it. Murphy covered every blade of grass on a horse who looks entirely straightforward and I hope he gets a more conventional hold up ride next time. He would surely appreciate a stronger pace so he can deliver a challenge as late as possible. Mr Thriller, who pipped him merely confirmed the regard in which I have long held him and he continues to appeal as a likely Aintree Hurdle winner.
Enough has already been written about the Betfair Chase battle between Kauto Star and Imperial Commander, but I'll just add that the winner appears to have run close to his early season best which suggests that Imperial Commander is a genuine Gold Cup contender. He has underperformed at 3m in the past but showed that those failures were not stamina related with a doughty display at Haydock. He may be best avoiding Kempton at Christmas and perhaps taking in the Cotswold Chase en route to a tilt at the Blue Riband itself.
The real talking point for me at Haydock, however, was the effortless victory of Diamond Harry in the Timeform Betfair Racing Club Hurdle over the fixed brush hurdles. To win as he did off a mark of 149 marks him down as a credible challenger for the World Hurdle and the handicapper agrees, raising him 16lb. That leaves him 9lb shy of Big Buck's in the ratings and the pair may clash in the Cleeve Hurdle in January.
Over at Ascot, Triumph Hurdle winner Zaynar belied fitness fears by winning the Coral Ascot Hurdle in most taking style, travelling more sweetly that was often the case last year. He now goes for the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham's Boylesports meeting where he may well meet Mr Thriller. That would be a race to savour.
Alberta's Run was a slightly surprising winner of the Amlin 1965 Chase, given that he was dropped below 3m for the first time since finishing last in an Intermediate Chase last year. In truth, though, he was always going like the winner and it's possible that he's fooled us into thinking that he's an out and out stayer. Good ground looks the key to him but it should be borne in mind that he was greatly favoured by the Ascot weights and a 1lb rise for that win shows he didn't need to step forward on his best form. He was 2nd in last year's King George and will most likely head there again.
