The dashing success of Hermes Allen at Cheltenham within the Grade 2 Ballymore Novice Hurdle on Friday was our spotlight of the week.
He confirmed us nothing at residence earlier than his romp spherical Stratford on his debut for us and didn’t leap nice that day both. However he has woken up since then, actually switched himself on and you’ll hardly cease him on the finish of the gallop now. It’s as if he’s a distinct horse.
Hermes Allen is vastly gifted, made all of the working at Cheltenham and stretched clear from an honest discipline up the hill to win by 9 lengths with out being challenged.
He’s all class and appears very best for the Challow Hurdle at Newbury on New Yr’s Eve and his homeowners would like to carry him again to the Pageant in March.
Dixon Cove gave us a superb begin to the week with a fluent victory at Hereford on Tuesday earlier than the imposing Rubaud hacked up at Taunton on Thursday.
Il Ridoto ran effectively to complete fourth within the Paddy Energy Gold Cup on Saturday. The three in entrance of him had all had a prep run and Il Ridoto, who discovered the bottom fast sufficient and had an excellent blow afterwards, shall be sharper in a month’s time when he returns to the course for the Racing Submit Gold Cup. He’ll enhance.
I’m mystified by the efficiency of Blueking d’Oroux who was pulled up by Harry Cobden within the juvenile hurdle on Saturday. He had been giving us the suitable alerts at residence and had labored pleasingly with helpful secure mates in a racecourse gallop.
However after main till previous half-way he stopped in a short time turning down the hill. He was 100% on Sunday morning and the assessments we’ve run to this point have all been clear. Maybe one thing will come to mild within the subsequent few days.
Sonigino was one other to search out the bottom faster than very best within the Greatwood Hurdle. I’m nonetheless kicking myself for working him for a second time at Chepstow the place he gained so simply he was raised 10lbs by the handicapper however hindsight is a superb factor!! I’ll freshen him up now earlier than making any agency plans.
Irish Hill ended a irritating couple of days for the yard by simply failing to stand up in a decent end to the Salmon Spray Hurdle at Fontwell.
With rain forecast within the coming days we are going to once more be busy this week beginning with some respectable probabilities at Exeter on Monday.
Hitman heads to Haydock on Saturday and I’ll go away Frodon within the Betfair Chase and can take a look on the race earlier than making up my thoughts. As well as Full Unknown is pencilled in for the £125,000 Betfair Alternate Stayers Handicap Hurdle whereas Tahmuras could have an entry within the Listed Novice Hurdle.
We will even be sending a crew to Ascot on Saturday and entries embrace Pic D’Orhy, Saint Calvados and Thyme White.
For the newest information on all my runners in Saturday please do try my Betfair column which matches stay early on Friday afternoon.