Nassalam – 5th in 2.40 Ascot 29/10/22
Nassalam was sent off the 3/1 favourite for the two mile one furlong Premier Handicap Chase at Ascot. The blinkers were left off and he started to jump out to his left throughout the race giving away plenty of ground. He will come on for this run and back on a left handed track over slightly further I think there is plenty of improvement to come from him. He is still only five and jockey Jamie Moore minded him once his chance was gone at Ascot. Keep an eye out for the return of blinkers as well.
Call Of The Wild – 3rd in 2.05 Ascot 29/10/2022
Call Of The Wild was third in a handicap hurdle at Ascot off a mark of 130. It was his first run of the season and he was dropped in behind, well off the pace. The two that finished ahead of him were ridden more prominent and he did well to finish third. He should go close next time out off the same mark and should take a step forward from this run. He is still only a five year old and still very much unexposed. The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham November meeting would be a likely target.
Ruby Island – 2nd 5.05 in Aintree 23/10/22
Ruby Island was second in the Mares Bumper at Aintree on Sunday. Trained by Mark Walford she was green when wandering at the business end of this race. Jockey Jack Garritty had to galvanise her before the penny finally dropped and she fairly rattled home over the final furlong to be just denied. This is a mare which may be overlooked by the bookies going forward as she is trained by one of the smaller trainers. Saying that she was visually very impressive with her finishing kick and is one for the notebook. She stayed out the trip really strongly.
Petit Tonnerre – 3rd in 3.15 Aintree 23/10/22
Petit Tonnerre stayed on really well for third in a Handicap Hurdle at Aintree. He hasn’t been seen since pulling up in the Aintree Juvenile Hurdle last April when pulling up four out. Something must have been a miss that day and the fact he ran there suggests connections think a bit of this horse. He was travelling like the winner at two out last Sunday before staying on for third. Off a handicap mark of 138 he should be interesting over the coming season in handicaps. He will come forward for his seasonal reappearance and the odds of 22/1 would confirm that this was just a starting point for him.
Fun Fun Fun – 1st in 5.20 Sligo 21/10/22
Fun Fun Fun was an impressive winner of the Bumper in Sligo under owner/ jockey Patrick Mullins. She was bred by Patrick and won by an easy ten lengths. I would assume she was well tuned for the race and may be sold to an owner in the Mullins yard privately. Her Dam is an unraced half sister to the talented Yorkhil . She is one for the tracker and could prove to be very talented going forward.
Green Glory – 4th in 1.20 Cork 16/10/22
Green Glory was well fancied in the opener at Cork for trainer Charles Byrnes. He is a strapping big horse who over exerted in the early stages of this race before finishing a tired looking fourth on hurdles debut. The fact he could only manage sixth on his bumper debut before easily winning on his second start a month later would give encouragement he can come forward for this run. The application of a hood might be seen next time just to help him settle in the early stages of a race. He travelled strongly up to two furlongs out and overall jumped very well. He is capable of winning a maiden hurdle. It was his first run for 170 days so he is entitled to strip fitter next time as well.
Modern Games – 2nd in 3.20 Ascot 15/10/22
Modern Games ran a fine second at Ascot last Saturday finishing second to Bayside Boy over One mile on good to soft ground. He will be suited by better ground and I can see him run a big race at The Breeders Cup. He won at Woodbine in the Grade One Woodbine Mile Stakes on his penultimate start comfortably by five lengths and clearly handles travelling and climate changes. Kinross is currently favourite for the Breeders Cup Miles but I would have Modern Games ahead of him especially if the ground was good or faster.
Pentire Head – 3rd in 5.12 Chepstow 08/10/22
Pentire Head was a 145,000 purchase as a three year old. He is a brother to the Grade 2 winning hurdler Mount Mews. His dam is a sister to the high class Burton Port. He was green throughout under jockey Harry Cobden and will come on plenty for the run. The fact that he could run green and still finish off his race well, eventually finishing third beaten three and a half lengths shows there is an engine in him. Paul Nicholls has run some smart horses in this race over the years. Knappers Hill and McFabulous to name a few. With further progress almost a guarantee Pentire Head should be winning soon.
Unanswered Prayers – 5th in 4.02 Chepstow 08/10/22
Unanswered Prayers was well supported for Chris Gordon in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle. He finished a four and a half lengths fifth but travelled well throughout and just got outpaced before staying on honestly to the line. In a less competitive race he is sure to be bang there off a mark of 125. He will go on any ground bar real heavy so there should be more opportunities for him over the next few months.
Fancy Your Chances – 3rd in 3.25 Chepstow 07/10/22
Fancy Your Chances improved from the step up in trip to finish a one and a half length third behind Presenting A Queen in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over 2m31/2 furlongs. She was closer than when finishing fifth in a bumper won by Presenting A Queen over 3m1/2 furlong back in March. Her jumping was less polished than her main competitors in this and with improvement she should be capable of winning a race of this nature. She stayed on strongly to the line. By Presenting she would enjoy better ground but would be ok on anything bar heavy.