Eye Catchers November 2023
Cher Why Not – 3rd in 12.45 Punchestown 26/11/23
Cher Why Not was a big eyecatcher coming from the back of the field to finish third in this 80 – 116 rated Handicap Hurdle. He was inconvenienced by a faller and stayed on nicely to finish third, never quite reaching the leaders. He bunny hopped the final hurdle and although I don’t feel he would have caught the two ahead of him, he was good value for his third though and I like the fact he didn’t empty after that mistake. He may pick up a race soon before the handicapper has his measure again.
Saint Segal – Fell in 3.15 Ascot 25/11/23
Saint Segal fell at the last fence at Ascot when just about to hit the front. Unfortunately for our service he hit the ground but it looked like he was extending and probably had the winning of this race. He settled nicely out the back and was delivered perfectly by jockey David Noonan. The handicapper has raised him 3 lbs for that effort but he is capable of being competitive off a mark of 139 and there could be more improvement to come from him as he is still only a five year old.
Mossy Fen Park – 2nd in 12.13 Punchestown 25/11/23
Mossy Fen Park was bought by Clipper Logistics for 200k after winning his Irish point for Monbeg Stables. He won that point by 18 lengths and ran a lovely race to finish second for Henry De Bromhead on his racecourse debut in this Maiden Hurdle. The winner Predators Gold won the Goffs Land Rover Bumper last spring and looks to be well above average. Mossy Fen Park was 5 ½ lengths ahead of the Gordon Elliott trained Doctor Elvis who finished back in third. He won’t be much of a price next time but if he can avoid another Willie Mullins trained hot pot he should be very hard to beat.
Spillane’s Tower – 4th in 3.05 Navan 18/11/23
Spillane’s Tower was a big eyecatcher in a competitive Beginners Chase over 2m 1f at Navan. This horse has some good back form having finished second to Imagine in a Maiden Hurdle at Wexford and second agin to Monbeg Park over 2 miles at Punchestown last spring. He has a handicap mark of 126 over Hurdles and needs another run over fences to get a Chase mark. He is one to keep in your tracker as he has plenty of ability and jumped really well last Sunday. He will pop up in some of the festivals and handles ground from yielding to Heavy.
Home By The Lee – 3rd in 2.05 Navan 18/11/23
Home By The Lee showed enough to suggest he is capable of winning a race over Christmas in the staying division. It was his first run of the season and I would imagine he will come on for it. It looks a weak division and I wouldn’t be surprised if Bob Olinger couldn’t back this run up. Home By The Lee will show up more than likely at Leopardstown where he will be a lot more forward. He may also go to Gowran for the Galmoy Hurdle before deciding whether to go for the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham. Klassical Dream and No More Porter are gone chasing so his biggest rival could be Teahupoo in Ireland. Sire Du Berlais is turning twelve in January and is more of a spring horse.
Read To Return – 5th in 1.10 Cheltenham 18/11/23
This is the perfect example of the chances you take punting on a Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase. Read To Return was well supported for trainer Tony Martin and visually looked like he should have gone close to winning. His jockey, claiming 7 lbs, was very inexperienced and left the horse far too much to do. With a rating of 112 over fences and 98 over hurdles there are races to be won with Read To Return. He likes a trip and is a proper stayer who handles soft and Heavy ground. With a more experienced claimer he should pick up a race or two over the coming season.
Support Act – 5th in 1.55 Lingfield 14/11/23
Support Act was well punted for this Novice Hurdle having opened up at 6/1 and going off 11/8 favourite. He was second in his Irish point before finishing second to East India Express in a strong Bumper at Kempton. He then easily won his next Bumper at Wetherby by 12 lengths. East India Express won on his hurdling debut and Booster Bob who finished 20 lengths third in that Wetherby Bumper also won on his hurdles debut. In the whole Support Act jumped and travelled but it looked like he blew up after the second last eventually finishing fifth. He is a horse who should strip fitter next time and would enjoy better ground. If he fails to win next time I could see him being aimed at a decent handicap.
Fast Felix – 2nd in 1.10 Down Royal 11/11/23
Down Memory Lane was the talking horse in this Maiden Hurdle over 2m1f at Down Royal. He travelled and jumped easily and was an impressive winner but you couldn’t be but impressed in the way Fast Felix stuck to his task to finish 3 lengths behind him in second. He was tough as nails and was the only horse to put up any bit of a challenge to the odds on favourite. He looked like enjoying the soft underfoot conditions and a race at Limerick over the Christmas could be a suitable target for Fast Felix. Eoin McCarthy loves having runners at his local track and the ground is almost always soft.
Knockmore Prince – 3rd in 8.30 Dundalk 10/11/23
Knockmore Prince was an eye-catching third over 1 mile at Dundalk last friday eventually finishing third under champion jockey Colin Keane. He was drawn in stall 14 and was dropped out the back through the early stages of the race. In doing so he was at the mercy of the pace setters up front and unfortunately for him they didn’t set a strong pace and he was finishing strongly without ever catching the leaders. If he was to get a thoroughly run race over a mile he should go very close next time out.
I SeeThe Sea – 5th in 4.25 Chepstow 08/11/23
I had a small interest in this horse before he was sold to Philip Hobbs and Johnson White. He was unlucky not to win his Irish point when finishing a close second to Chauffeur Driven. He was disappointing on his British debut but we never felt he was suited to heavy ground and should be better on good ground. I am willing to forgive him this run and a step up in trip on better ground could see this son of Affinisea take a significant step forward. We may get an each way price as a bonus.
Tellherthename – 2nd in 2.40 Ascot 04/11/23
Tellherthename was number 11 on my 10 to follow list. He was seriously impressive when winning his Irish point at Borris house by 5 lengths. I tipped him up with the service and was delighted at our position turning into the straight as the eventual winner Jango Baie had been fiercely free but only like a talented horse can Jango Baie fought back to head our horse on the line. The pair were 13 lengths clear of the third and I’d imagine they are both above average.
Free Horse Trackers
There are several good horse trackers available to Punters. These trackers can be used to receive alerts on the eye catchers listed above. Some are free while others require a subscription such as with the racing post.
Below are links to some of the better free Horse Trackers available to punters.