FLAT

FIELD DAY
(WON, Newmarket October 31)

This time last year, trainer Brian Meehan went into hibernation dreaming of Classic success with the likes of CROWDED HOUSE and DELEGATOR. The dreams all turned spectacularly sour but that didn’t stop his assistant enthusing about the prospects of this two-year-old daughter of Cape Cross after a splendid debut victory in a maiden Meehan has now won three times in the last five seasons. The enthusiasm is not misplaced either, judging by the way the filly travelled strongly throughout and picked up to leave behind a John Gosden rival who’d had the benefit of a run and a Sir Michael Stoute favourite. “She could be something special next year,” was the verdict of the yard.

HAMLOOLA
(3RD, Doncaster November 7)

End-of-season maidens are decried by many. But they are the source of many a winner for the following spring and this season, they continued to fascinate right up to the final day of the campaign. By all accounts, William Haggas’s Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned daughter of Red Ransom is only a small, plain filly, who drifted markedly ahead of her debut here. And she duly spent most of the race in rear, looking very inexperienced. But she made relentless progress through the final 2f and I have little doubt that she might have won if Richard Hills had been a bit harder on her. Providing she trains on, his kindness will be repaid, though, in 2010 when she could develop into a nice handicapper over trips of 1m-10f.

HYMNSHEET
(WON, Yarmouth October 20)

Quite a decent juvenile maiden containing several choicely-bred fillies from big yards and throwing up the unusual sight of a debutant winner from the Sir Michael Stoute yard, suggesting a horse with a future. After being held up in rear, her progress wasn’t spectacular but it was persistent and she pleased with the way she wore down a rival who’d had previous experience. A daughter of Pivotal, she’s also a half-sister to Chorist, who won the Group One Pretty Polly Stakes in Ireland for the same owners, the Cheveley Park Stud. “She’s a nice filly, bred to improve, and Ryan (Moore) was impressed,” said Chris Richardson, Cheveley Park’s spokesman.

JAN VERMEER
(WON, Saint-Cloud November 1)

It is not the purpose of this column to point you in the direction of ST NICHOLAS ABBEY. You’ve probably got there already, thanks to his amazing Racing Post Trophy success. But amid all the understandable hype surrounding the potential, new ‘wonder horse’, it would be unwise to forget this fast-improving stablemate, who looks sure to give any horse a run for his money in the middle-distance Classics next season. On jockey-bookings, he was the second string for this Group One Criterium International over 1m and when he set off in front, it was assumed that his role was to ensure a true gallop. He did just that but, as it happened, he never stopped, kicking clear once they‘d straightened up for home and relishing the stamina-test provided by the Soft ground. A son of Montjeu out of Pennekamp mare, he is superbly bred.

LAAHEB
(WON, Newmarket October 31)

After fracturing a pastern as a two-year-old, Michael Jarvis’s enticingly-bred son of Cape Cross, out of a Sadler’s Wells mare, is making up for lost time with a vengeance. And on the evidence of this victory in a good tight-knit renewal of the Listed James Seymour Stakes, he can progress into a Group performer next season. He had the lowest official rating of all five runners and 11lbs to find with the in-form Godolphin favourite. What’s more, he was asked to adopt new, restrained tactics after bolting up to make all last time. But no bother. He ran out a cosy winner and considering he hails from the family of Warrsan and Needle Gun, he is a banker to improve further with age.

MODEYRA
(WON, Doncaster October 23)

Any two-year-old filly who is a daughter of Shamardal, who won the French 1,000 Guineas, and Zahrat Dubai, who won the Nassau Stakes and was third in the Oaks, is worth a second glance. But it’s a fair bet that Godolphin’s charge will be receiving more than glances when she takes to the big stage in 2010. In a warm, competitive maiden for her debut, she was handed a tricky, wide draw but broke smartly, travelled sweetly and picked up to order without Frankie Dettori having to get at all serious. Apparently a lovely, scopy type, she is almost certainly Group class.

PADMINI
(WON, Lingfield October 29)

German Group One winner Tiger Hill is making a name for himself as a sire and was responsible for another nice winner in this Godolphin debutant, out of an Unfuwain mare, Petrushka, who won the Irish Oaks. Considering she’s so stoutly bred (and even a half-sister to a hurdler), she did well to win over such a sharp 7f, especially as she’s a big, leggy sort and especially as the more experienced Richard Hannon runner-up pinched two or three lengths in front, approaching the final couple of furlongs. Not until the final furlong did this filly truly get going but when she did, she smoothly reeled in the leader and looks a certainty to improve over longer distances next term.

PIPETTE
(3RD Newbury October 24)

Owner George Strawbridge had his share of success at the Breeders’ Cup and might enjoy more back in the UK next year with this interesting daughter of Pivotal out of a Sadler’s Wells mare. The form of her maiden victory on debut is working out well and she handled this step-up in class, in a good, competitive Listed Radley Stakes, despite giving the impression that she badly needs much further than the 7f trip. Stoked up a good 2f out, she came under heavy pressure but kept finding and ended up running on very strongly. With normal improvement, she should make her mark in Group contests next term for trainer Andrew Balding.

RADIO WAVE
(3RD, Yarmouth October 20)

It’s a long way from a Yarmouth maiden to the Oaks at Epsom but it wouldn’t surprise me if John Gosden has the route plotted for this very well-bred daughter of Arc hero Dalakhani and Ebor winner Tuning. Quite clearly, she’s bred for middle distances and that’s the way she ran on this debut in a decent maiden, the winner of which (HYMNSHEET) we have already mentioned. Niggled and ridden from some way out, she then struggled to find room as the pace quickened before keeping on nicely for pushed hands-and-heels in the final furlong. She is sure to have learned a lot from the experience and it is to be hoped that she can lose her maiden tag before being aimed at an Oaks trial in the spring.

SECRECY
(WON, Newmarket October 31)

This wasn’t a particularly strong handicap and I had mixed feelings about the heavy support for Godolphin’s three-year-old favourite, considering he’d disappointed on his previous run, failing to confirm the promise he’d shown on his belated seasonal bow at Doncaster’s St Leger meeting. But lapping up the give in the ground, as most King’s Best progeny do, he made a mockery of his not inconsiderable mark of 102 and as a lightly-raced sort, he could develop into a serious Pattern performer next season. After travelling very smoothly, the only danger he encountered was traffic. Once in the clear, he quickened appreciably to give Frankie Dettori an armchair ride.

TAMAATHUL
(WON, Doncaster October 23)

Even allowing for the fact that Barry Hills’s Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned two-year-old grey had the benefit of a valuable previous run, this was a most taking pillar-to-post triumph that spreadeagled a fair-looking maiden field. He broke from the gates like a sprinter and jockey Tadhg O’Shea just let him bowl, which the colt did most enthusiastically. A son of Tiger Hill, he did hit the ground quite hard, suggesting he might not appreciate a quick surface -- a view reinforced by his pedigree, which shows that the dam is by Linamix. But he has the scope to develop into a solid miler in 2010.

TIMEPIECE
(WON, Newmarket October 31)

There are few better records in racing than Henry Cecil’s Oaks roll of honour and he has almost certainly found another contender for Epsom on the first Friday in June with this daughter of Zamindar. A richly competitive renewal of the Listed Montrose Stakes represented another step-up in class for her and gave her a huge amount to find on official ratings. But she not only took it in her stride, she also surprised even the master of Warren Place himself, who said: “I promise you haven’t seen the best of this filly yet. She didn’t like the (Softish) ground and had gone over the top.” He should know -- because she is a half-sister to the Cecil duo Father Time and Passage Of Time and the second dam is a half-sister to his Group One winner and Oaks runner-up, All At Sea. It is also highly significant that, on debut, Cecil pitched her into a maiden that he had taken previously with one of his Oaks winners, Light Shift, and with another of his Oaks runners-up, Breeders’ Cup heroine Midday.

JUMPS

ALEGRALIL
(WON, Towcester November 5)

Donald McCain’s talented hurdling mare, WHITEOAK, appears to have temporarily lost her way since emerging as a Champion Hurdle outsider last season. But the yard are not unduly worried, partly because they believe this four-year-old daughter of King’s Theatre is capable of becoming even better. She certainly provided the fireworks on this Guy Fawkes Day re-appearance. Although her early jumping was a bit awkward and novicey, she was much tidier once sent to the front from halfway and hardly had to be shaken up to draw a long clear up the home straight. Sizeable and scopy, she’s a half-sister to a 3m chaser and, intriguingly, the dam is related to the great Dublin Flyer.

ANY THE WISER
(WON, Uttoxeter October 30)

The Waley-Cohen family have National Hunt blood coursing through their veins and, on the evidence of his Bumper debut here, they can look ahead to many enjoyable days with this rangy-looking, five-year-old son of Kahyasi. Time will tell how strong the race was but he could hardly have won it more impressively, arriving on the scene tanking along on the bridle before quickening to the front and powering home. He’s a half-brother to several winning jumpers in France and it would be no surprise to see him transferred to the professional care of Nicky Henderson in due course.

BIG ZEB
(WON, Navan November 8)

If, like me, you feel that champion chaser MASTER MINDED was not at his best last season and could be vulnerable this time round, you will be desperately searching for a challenger to lower his colours. Or at least to give him a proper test come the Cheltenham Festival next March. Look no further than Colm Murphy’s son of Oscar, who faces a make-or-break campaign that will surely banish his well-documented jumping problems and win him the major prize his supreme talent deserves. The eight-year-old came to grief in both his prep race and in the Queen Mother itself last term before running Paul Nicholls’s title-holder to a head at Punchestown. But he could not have jumped, or travelled, better on this sparkling seasonal bow and in toying with his rivals, Barry Geraghty did not even have to ask him to come out of first gear. It was an incredibly snug victory, especially as he was giving weight away on Heavy ground that his trainer insists he doesn’t function too well on! Please, please snap up the very generous 8/1 on offer for the Festival. This is a serious racehorse who was runner-up to the likes of Captain Cee Bee and Clopf in Bumpers and to Sizing Europe and Catch Me over hurdles.

BOBBY EWING
(WON, Uttoxeter October 20)

This is often one of the better early-season novice hurdles. Indeed it was won last year by the hugely promising David Pipe charge, GREAT ENDEAVOUR. Another competitive renewal was turned into a one-horse procession by Nigel Twiston-Davies’s once-raced Irish point winner, a four-year-old son of Bob’s Return. He could not have been more impressive on his timber debut, coasting into contention entering the home straight and sauntering clear, hard held. A half-brother to several winners, he was bought by the shrewd Anthony Bromley for the incredibly lucky ownership syndicate, the Million In Mind partnership, and looks certain to bring them more success.

DOOR BOY
(WON, Aintree October 25)

Howard Johnson’s Graham Wylie-owned six-year-old lost his way last season after chasing home the classy DIAMOND HARRY at Cheltenham’s Open meeting. But he was bought -- for the princely sum of £185,000 -- primarily for fences and went some way towards proving that on this triumphant seasonal bow. He travelled strongly throughout and did well to recover from a shocking error -- his only of the race -- when ploughing through the cross-fence. A well-built son of the under-rated sire jumps Dr Massini, he has the raw talent to progress into a good horse.

GATES OF ROME
(2ND, Punchestown October 27)

Hard to say how strong this maiden hurdle was but I was quite taken by the timber debut of Colm Murphy’s five-year-old, who arrived on the scene full of running as the front two kicked clear. He didn’t quite pull out as much as looked likely but might still have won but for an awkward leap at the last when landing on all fours. He was outstayed only by a winner with a fitness and experience advantage and looks sure to go one better soon. Owned by the Gigginstown House Stud, he won a 3m point in April and is very much bred for the jumping game.

IN COMPLIANCE
(WON, Thurles November 5)

On all known ratings and form, Dessie Hughes’s new recruit had a huge amount in hand for this Listed chase. But he still deserves credit for a polished performance after a mammoth 679-day absence from the track with a muscle injury and it might yet be worth remembering that he was once touted as a Gold Cup horse by his previous handler, Michael O’Brien, especially after beating the then holder of the Cheltenham crown, War Of Attrition, in December 2006. Indeed O’Brien always reckoned he was superior to Forget The Past, who was third for him in the Blue Riband. Quite how much ability he retains we will find out in the coming months but he bounced round here, jumping for fun. His chief asset has always appeared to be his pace but he is bred to stay 3m, although he’s never won over the trip, and another plus is that he‘s still lightly-raced for a nine-year-old chaser (this was only the 15th start of his career).

KILLULTAGH QUEEN
(WON, Fairyhouse November 4)

Bumper king Willie Mullins says he’s had a few decent mares by King’s Theatre in his time. Well, he definitely has another in this five-year-old who made mincemeat of her rivals on debut. Unlike many National Hunt Flat horses from the yard, who make all, she settled into a rhythm in mid-division and as she made progress, it mattered not a jot that she had to come wide into the home straight. Indeed jockey Patrick Mullins didn’t even ask a question of her until as late as the final 2f when she cruised alongside the front two and then, shaken up at the 1f pole, she quickened clear. It was a classy effort and it will be fascinating to see if Mullins stays on the level with her or switches to hurdles.

KNOCKARA BEAU
(WON, Carlisle November 1)

Flying the flag for the small Northern yard of George Charlton is this thoroughly likeable, scopy six-year-old who progressed with every run over hurdles last season and even finished only ten lengths behind the redoubtable MIKAEL D’HAGUENET when fifth in the Ballymore Properties at the Cheltenham Festival. He’s always been considered a chaser in the making, though, and underlined that he has a big future with this exciting seasonal bow in a hot race. OK, he was receiving fully 16lbs from the favourite, but he was far less experienced over the bigger obstacles, although judging by the impeccable way he travelled and jumped, you would never have guessed it. The fact that he hails from an unfashionable stable means he is always likely to be under-estimated but I will be amazed if he doesn’t plunder some major prizes in the years to come, especially as he acts on any ground.

LITTLE JOSH
(2ND, Aintree October 25)

Given that we have already named the winner of this novices‘ chase, DOOR BOY, it would be remiss not to include Nigel Twiston-Davies’s promising runner-up too. For he did nothing wrong, jumping beautifully in front and looking sure to prevail until either blowing up or simply getting outspeeded at the business end. A rangy, lightly-raced seven-year-old, he is making quiet but pleasing progress and looks sure to win plenty of races, particularly when stepped up to 3m. Don’t be surprised to see him pop up at Cheltenham’s Open meeting or Newbury’s Hennessy meeting next.

MASTER MEDIC
(WON, Ascot October 31)

I was disappointed to note that connections have opted to bypass the Paddy Power Gold Cup with this talented eight-year-old chaser because on the evidence of this seasonal re-appearance, he must have gone close, even allowing for a steep rise in the weights. Despite a long, injury-enforced absence, he took the eye in the paddock and did extremely well to reel in the long-time leader after looking in trouble on emerging from Swinley Bottom. A return to 2m4f will suit, and he looks the kind of quality horse his owners, Pell-Mell Partners, have been waiting for to follow in the footsteps of big names like Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Katabatic and Hennessy Gold Cup winner Cogent.

MONASTRELL
(WON, Down Royal November 7)

Given that the strongly fancied favourite had chased home smart novice hurdler LUSKA LAD on his debut, this has to go down as a very useful Bumper debut by Noel Meade’s four-year-old son of Terimon. I suspect the steady pace was in his favour, turning the race into a test of speed, rather than stamina, but the ground was plenty testing enough and there could be no quibbling about the way he travelled, eased into contention and quickened effortlessly clear under the familiar sight of a motionless Nina Carberry. He’s a very interesting prospect for novice hurdles for the rest of the season.

MEGASTAR
(WON, Sandown November 7)

If it’s true that this nicely-bred son of crack jumps sire Kayf Tara has worked well at home with classy stayer Mourilyan, it is hardly surprising that trainer Gary Moore rates him his best Bumper horse. He duly translated homework to the track in what is invariably a warm, informative race. The highly-regarded Nicky Henderson favourite looked sure to win when going on after travelling beautifully. But no sooner had he hit the front than Moore’s charge swamped him on the outer with a serious turn of foot. The trainer says he has a big engine and is built to jump obstacles. For once, an ambitious name might well be justified!

PRIDE OF DULCOTE
(WON, Worcester October 21)

Paul Nicholls’s six-year-old took high rank in staying novice hurdles last season and ended up on a lofty rating of 147 after getting pipped by a whisker at the Cheltenham Festival. He had only one serious rival to worry about for this chasing debut but could hardly have been more impressive in making all. Although he’s blessed with stamina, there’s bags of speed in his locker too and the way he travelled characterised the display. He also jumped brilliantly, measuring every fence perfectly, and even at this stage of the season, it’s not hard to envisage him contesting the Sun Alliance at next year’s Festival -- especially as Nicholls revealed that he “was not fully wound up and will improve for the outing”.

PEPE SIMO
(WON, Wincanton November 7)

So remorselessly do the Irish dominate the Champion bumper at the Cheltenham Festival that fewer and fewer home-trained animals appear good enough to take up the challenge. So it is perhaps significant that this five-year-old was pitched into the race by Paul Nicholls -- and he acquitted himself well too, finishing ninth. The good impression has been carried over to hurdles this autumn with a hard-fought victory on debut being followed by a smooth and classy follow-up under a penalty here. He has his quirks and cannot hit the front too soon but when allowed to travel off a decent pace and unleash his turn of foot, he is a potent force, capable of mixing it with the best in novice company.

PESOTO
(WON, Limerick November 9)

Edward O’Grady’s grey French import is quietly tipped to make an impact over fences this term -- and we found out why with this fluent pillar-to-post victory. It probably wasn’t much of a race but the second and third had the benefit of previous action this term and he ran them ragged, jumping with terrific aplomb. After two breathing operations during the summer, the six-year-old is expected to improve considerably on the two chase outings he had last term, in which case a big prize is heading his way. Because on debut, he finished only half a length behind the very smart JONCOL and next time out, he was plunged into a Grade One, finishing sixth behind the likes of TATENEN and COOLDINE.

SHILLINGSTONE
(WON, Kempton November 2)

Now here’s a barmy, long-range tip for you. The Alners’ lightly-raced seven-year-old to win the Fulke Walwyn/Kim Muir for amateur riders at next year’s Cheltenham Festival. Outrageous maybe but one can already begin to see the seedlings of the plot being sown by the yard, who have targeted the race many times before. As a graduate from the pointing and hunting fields, the horse is an honest, old-fashioned stayer, who proved the perfect conveyance here for amateur Sam Allwood, claiming 7lbs. Rated only 115, he has a fair way to shoot up the handicap before he can be considered for Cheltenham but the manner in which he won suggests there’s much more mileage in the tank.

THE TOTHER ONE
(2ND, Wincanton November 7)

Paul Nicholls’s eight-year-old son of Accordion was so useful as a long-distance novice hurdler two seasons ago that he finished third at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals. He suffered a minor injury when coming to grief on only his second start over fences a year ago but this highly encouraging return, off what looked a stiffish mark of 146 and in a competitive handicap, suggests he still very much has a future -- maybe even as leading contender for the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury at the end of November. His rustiness and inexperience caused some sketchy jumping in rear early on but he emerged from the pack as the only danger to the all-the-way winner, running on strongly, despite never looking likely to get there. Nicholls warns he’s not the scopiest of horses but he is blessed with huge talent, not to mention untapped potential.

VOLER LA VEDETTE
(WON, Down Royal November 6)

And so we save the best till last because there’s no doubt in my mind about the most exhilarating performance of the jumps season so far. And that was this electric victory in a warm Grade Three by Colm Murphy’s rapidly improving five-year-old mare. Her re-appearance win had been impressive enough but she took this step-up in class without turning a hair, leaving in her wake the likes of GO NATIVE, one of last season’s leading novices. She jumped athletically throughout and took off approaching the last, which she pinged, to scorch clear in a display that had some observers whispering Champion Hurdle. It certainly brought back memories of another super mare in Murphy’s care, Feathard Lady, who also took this prize en route to Grade One spoils. This one is described by the handler as “a proper filly” and, sensibly, he has earmarked the David Nicholson as her Festival target.