Weekend Review / Timeform / 19 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Timeform take a look back at a significant weekend in horse racing...

"A first-time visor perked up Aiden O’Brien’s Beethoven to such an extent that he landed the Dewhurst, stablemates Fencing Master and Steinbeck, who finished second and fourth respectively, in fact looked the ones to take out of the race."

There were a number of horses to take note of at Cheltenham on Saturday, most notably Starluck completing a successful reappearance to begin proceedings and Kangaroo Court enhancing his chasing record to two from two in a four-runner novices' Chase, both winning on the bridle with any amount in hand.

Elsewhere on the card Paul Nicholl's and Ruby Walsh made their presence felt as Poquelin and Just Amazing completed a double for the pair.

For most, however, Newmarket's Champions Day took precedence and although a first-time visor perked up Aiden O'Brien's Beethoven to such an extent that he landed the Dewhurst, stablemates Fencing Master and Steinbeck, who finished second and fourth respectively, in fact looked the ones to take out of the race.

Similar to the Dewhurst, the Champion Stakes was a sub-standard renewal, with Irish Derby winner Fame And Glory (back in sixth) seemingly feeling the effects of a hard season. It did, on the plus side, give Twice Over an opportunity to gain his first Group 1 success after a number of near misses. Mawatheeq continued his progression to finish an excellent second and Sariska ran a fine race in third with conditions against her.

The feeling that, as a three year old, Darley Sun would be up against it in the Cesarewitch was readily dismissed as he romped home by five lengths from Mamlook. The performance provided a deserved big-race success for improving trainer David Simcock who has done an exceptional job with the colt this year. Soon after, Music Show put himself forward as another 1,000 Guineas contender for Mick Channon by winning the Rockfel Stakes and the gutsy Akmal refused to let anything past as he made all in the Jockey Club Cup.

The highlight of Sunday's action was probably the listed novices' hurdle at Kempton, which was won quite comfortably by Cootehill after favourite Australia Day took a heavy fall at the first.

Tags: Aidan O'Brien., Akmal, Beethoven, Cheltenham, Cootehill, Darley Sun, Fame And Glory, Just Amazing, Kangaroo Court, Kempton, Music Show, Newmarket, Poquelin, Starluck, Twice Over