SENIOR CITIZEN (2nd) – 2:10 Doncaster (14th January)
On a gloomy Tuesday afternoon, Senior Citizen made his debut over fences in a competitive beginners’ chase. He was the lowest rated hurdler in the field and his trainer, Alan King, seemed pessimistic about his chances; he was unsure about the testing conditions and suggested that he’d improve considerably for his first run of the season.
Despite those negatives, he ran a superb race to finish 2nd behind The Big Bite. Held up in rear, he made smooth progress to press the leaders on the turn for home. Notably, he was the only one of those ridden patiently to land a blow. He traded at a low of 3.0 in running (SP of 12/1) and was only denied by a horse with a fitness & experience edge.
His dam, Mothers Help, was a much better chaser than she was a hurdler; of her 7 career wins, 6 came over the larger obstacles. On the evidence of his chase debut, Senior Citizen may well follow in his mother’s footsteps.
His best form over hurdles was on a sound surface so there may well be plenty of improvement left once returned to quicker ground. He’s entitled to come on for his seasonal reappearance and he’ll be of strong interest in a handicap off his current mark of 125.
MINT CONDITION (4th) – 1:15 Newbury (15th January)
This race was the Shishkin show – and rightly so. The way he quickened up after the last was mightily impressive and there can be little doubt that he’s destined for bigger things.
However, on rewatching the race, I was quietly impressed by the performance of Mint Condition. Positioned just behind the leading group, he jumped accurately throughout and made steady headway to track Shishkin and Shakem Up’Arry; He was under pressure but not hard ridden to do so unlike a lot of the other pursuers. The front two eventually asserted their dominance and pulled clear while Mint Condition finished a valiant 4th.
Despite being sent off at 25/1, it wasn’t surprising to see him run well as his previous run in a bumper suggested that he’s a talented horse. He finished 3rd behind Soaring Glory and Truckers Pass; the former won another bumper on his next start before finishing 2nd in a listed race while the latter was a runner up again on his next run. Jennie Candlish isn’t known for her success in bumpers – she’s only had 1 win in the last 5 years which makes the performance of Mint Condition more significant.
He looks capable of winning a maiden hurdle in the near future.
CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM (4th) – 1:45 Newbury (15th January)
Bought for £250,000 after winning his point-to-point, he was an impressive winner of two novice hurdles last season before finishing well beaten in a grade 1 at Punchestown.
Quickly switched to fences, he’s made an inauspicious start to life in this sphere. His jumping has been appalling so far and you’d struggle to back him with any confidence on the back of his first two efforts over the larger obstacles.
With that said – how has he made it onto this list?
It’s largely down to his connections. Barry Geraghty has given him two educational rides to date; held up and never ridden into a fence. Mind you, there’s little doubt that he needs that education.
He clearly has an engine. You need look no further than his last start for evidence of that; he looked like tailing off for much of the race but he thundered home in the style of a horse with plenty in the tank.
In all likelihood, we’re talking about a handicap job for the future. He’s one to watch out for when the market is speaking in his favour.
HIGHWAY GIRL (2nd) – 1:10 Market Rasen (16th January)
I was at Market Rasen when she made her handicap debut. For much of the 3-mile contest she looked the winner. She coasted to the lead on the turn for home, trading at 1.1 in running before being gunned down by Blue Hussar after the last, much to my dismay (yes, I backed her). The front two pulled 11 lengths clear of Seemingly So in 3rd which suggests that it was a good performance from both horses – the clock also suggests that as it was the quickest time of any race on the card.
Despite having my fingers burnt, it was hard not to be impressed by the way she travelled through the race. This was her first start after a wind operation and she also had a tongue tie on for the first time which definitely seemed to help her. However, the trip seemed to catch her out and I’d like to see her drop back to 2m4f.
Only raised 2lbs for that run, she’s definitely one to follow next time out.
DAWSON CITY (4th) – 1:15 Ascot (18th January)
An admirable staying chaser, it was great to see this 11-year-old show that he still retains plenty of ability after a couple of below par efforts to start the season.
He showed up well for a long time despite the race not being a sufficient test of stamina; 3-miles at Ascot was never going to see him to best effect but he stayed on nicely at the finish, only beaten 7 lengths into 4th.
After that encouraging effort, the Devon National is likely to be next on the agenda. It’s a race he’s won for the last two years and no doubt connections will have geared his campaign around the hat-trick attempt.
He won the race off 131 last year (127 in 2018) and the handicapper has generously dropped him 1lb to 131. Once again, he’ll be a major player.
DOYANNIE (3rd) – 4:25 Taunton (18th January)
A temperamental mare but she certainly has ability.
Sent off the 6/4 favourite for her bumper debut back in May, she travelled powerfully throughout and it looked for all the world that she’d win comfortably. She was the last to be asked for an effort but once push came to shove, she was very green and failed to pick off the leading duo, eventually finishing 3rd.
The form of that race hasn’t worked out well and so it was no surprise that she was sent off a 20/1 chance for this Taunton bumper. Her disposition is clearly an issue as she was equipped with a hood and she also had to be led in at the start. For all that these are worrying signs, she again displayed a fair amount of promise with the way she travelled into the race but she hung right once asked for an effort.
She has a good pedigree; a daughter of Doyen and her dam is a half-sister to the useful duo Creevytennant and Fagan. She has the ability to win races but she may need time to mature mentally.
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