JESSIEMAC (2nd) – 4:00 Newcastle (20th January)
An improving mare, her hold up style makes it a nervous watch for those that back her. However, it was hard not to be taken with the way she scythed through the field with relative ease on her recent start; stone last at the 4th last, Derek Fox guided her to lead just after the next flight of hurdles. She looked to have plenty left but the testing ground marred with Newcastle’s steady uphill finish and the 3-mile trip eventually took its toll on Jessiemac, who started to toil approaching the final obstacle.
It’s possible that Derek Fox went got to the front too soon but I just think she ran out of steam in the final couple of furlongs; she won last time over 2m4f and clearly isn’t short of speed. The sectionals show that the pace was very strong through the middle of the race which made it a real stamina test. A finishing speed of just 95% demonstrates just hoe gruelling it was.
Jessiemac went up 2lbs for that run but given her upward profile, she could well have more to give. I wouldn’t mind her stepping back to 2m4f but a strong pace would need to be assured. She could well run next at Ayr; she’s had 10 of her 16 career starts at the Scottish track, resulting in 2 wins & 3 places.
THE BIG STING (4th) – 4:30 Exeter (21st January)
Given that he looks destined to be a staying chaser, The Big Sting ran with a great degree of credit in this bumper.
Up with the pace throughout, he looked a likely winner on the turn for home (traded at 2.14 in running) but he couldn’t maintain that position as he was swept aside by Red Rookie, who ran out an impressive winner. He eventually faded into 4th, but his weakness in the market before the off did indicate that he was likely to improve for this first run.
All things considered; it was a very promising performance. I don’t imagine he’ll have too many more runs in bumpers (if any). He’ll be of interest once sent over hurdles, especially when upped in distance.
TEMPLE HIGH (3rd) – 1:35 Warwick (22nd January)
This half-sister to Midnight Tour (2nd in a Mares Hurdle) made her hurdle debut here after only having 1 run prior; that was in a bumper and the form of that run has been franked. The winner (Overthetop) and runner up (Induno) have both won twice this season and the 4th placed finisher won his next start.
She opened up at 4/1 for this mares’ novice hurdle but drifted alarmingly out to 10/1 on the day. You always like to see some market support with Nicky’s runners so the writing seemed on the wall. Despite this, she travelled as well as anything throughout the race and finished only 4 ½ L behind the winner in 3rd place.
The winner, Molly Ollys Wishes, was only rated 116 coming into this race but she was equipped with a first-time tongue tie and this was her first attempt at a trip further that 2-miles so she undoubtedly performed better than that mark; the handicapper raised her to a mark of 124 for that performance.
The runner-up, It’s Probably Me, is in the same ownership as Temple High. This was her first start of the season outside of listed company so she’s clearly held in high regard and her strength in the market in comparison to Temple High tells its own story.
Temple High wasn’t given a hard time and she’ll come on leaps and bounds for the run. I wouldn’t mind seeing her step back in trip given how well she travelled.
PROPER TICKET is worth a mention having finished 4th in the same race. She’s now eligible for handicaps so keep an eye out for her.
RETURN TICKET (2nd) – 2:30 Catterick (22nd January)
Having been thrown into deep waters on his two previous starts over fences, Return Ticket lined up here for his first handicap chase from a mark of 129.
He never had a chance in the grade 1 Henry VIII novice chase last time; he shaped with credit but handicaps were always going to be where he ended up.
Return Ticket really caught the eye with how powerfully he travelled throughout the race. Approaching two out, it looked as though he’d sweep to the lead. Having got to the leader’s quarters, the complexion of the race changed drastically as Ruth Jefferson’s charge had to be shaken up to renew an effort. He couldn’t close on the eventual winner, Schieallion Munro, who was very impressive in his own right; he pinged every fence and looks a majorly progressive type. He’s been raised 9lbs to a mark of 140 which may tempt connections into having a crack at the Close Brothers.
His jumping was good at first but he made an error at four consecutive fences in the back straight. They weren’t glaring mistakes but they certainly made life harder for him. He is only a novice so he can be forgiven at this stage of his chase career.
He remains on a mark of 129 which I believe he is capable of winning off. He loves a sound surface and I think he’s most effective over 2-miles for now. He can win a nice handicap chase in the spring.
IMPERIAL AURA (2nd) – 1:15 Cheltenham (25th January)
On the back of his solid 2nd to Pym over an extended 3-miles, Imperial Aura was always going to be all the rage on his next run in a handicap.
Having been well backed for a race at Huntingdon that was abandoned, he made his reappearance in this competitive novice handicap at Trials Day. There was little doubt in my mind that he was a well handicapped horse off a mark of 136 and under normal circumstances I would’ve been very keen on him. However, Kim Bailey’s yard had been on the easy list following a string of disappointing performances in 2020. That seemed to play into the mind of punters before the race as he drifted from 5/2 to 5/1.
This was also his first chase in a big field on ground that was on the soft side for him. Under the circumstances, he ran a blinder to finish just 1 ½ lengths behind Simply the Betts (pair pulled 11 lengths clear of the 3rd)
He’s been raised 7lbs for that run to a mark of 143 which I initially thought was harsh. On reflection, it seems fair enough and it ensures that he’ll get into the Close Brothers.
He’s now a 12/1 joint-favourite for that race which is easy to understand. While I’m not keen to back him now, he’ll be of major interest if he lines up and if the Kim Bailey string are in better form.
overandclear.com 