Timeform Weekend Review: After the rain

Weekend Review / Timeform / 15 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

The cancellation of Cheltenham deprived jumps racing fans of the chance to see some top quality action over the weekend, and with Lingfield also suffering waterlogging on Saturday, it was left to action from Doncaster to compensate.

Pop got off the mark at the second time of asking when winning the maiden chase, beating Alan King's Greenbridge by five lengths. Despite jumping low on occasions he was essentially always in command after leading three out. He looks a useful prospect and should improve again. The runner-up jumped soundly in the main and should not be long in going one better.

Alan King is always a force to be reckoned with in the novice hurdle department and Enfant de Lune improved on his debut effort at Warwick to register a length and three quarter victory over Thundering Star, easily getting into contention before tiring late on. He was useful on the Flat and should improve to that level in this sphere before too long.

In the finale, Charlie Crab dented the hopes of the Scoop Six bonus backers when denying Duke of Touraine to land the handicap hurdle by half a length.

At Navan on Sunday, Noel Meade's Pandorama suffered a dent to his reputation when turned over at odds-on in the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle. The winner, Mikael D'Haguene showed marked improvement upped in grade and trip to score. The Slaney Hurdle at Naas is reportedly his next target.

Over at Musselburgh, Joe Jo Star was undoubtedly the most popular winner of the day. He was well backed and barely came off the bridle to land the handicap hurdle. The handicapper will have his say, but Joe Jo Star looks to have improved for the change of stable and has room for further improvement.