1:40 – Tel’Art 17/2 EW
The selection ran either side of Pauling yards downturn in form, which saw them refrain from having runners from 7th November until the 3rd December. A faulty batch of hay, which lacked sufficient potassium, was found to be the cause.
For reference: The yards record from the beginning of October to the 7th November was: 1 win & 1 place from 20 runners.
His first run of the season was a good one. Sent off 9/4f for a class 5 handicap off today’s mark of 102, he was prominent early before taking up the running at the midway stage. Trading at a low of 1.5 in running, two poor jumps at the final two flights didn’t help his cause as he was eventually beaten off by Benton’s Lad – the pair were 6 lengths clear of 3rd. This race was on the 8th October so he fared better than the majority of his rivals did during this period.
He then ran on December (8th), just as Pauling’s yard began to have runners again. Put into a competitive class 4, he showed up well for a long way before fading tamely to finish a distant 10th. He was dropped back to a mark of 102 for that run.
In that 2 week period following the yards resumption (3rd – 17th), they still weren’t firing on all cylinders: 1 win and 1 place from 21 runners. It wasn’t until late December that they started returning to form.
Tel’Art’s best performances have come when fresh. His first run for yard came when 5th in a competitive bumper. He was sent off joint favourite that day and was only beaten 3.75L, with dual bumper winner and listed placed Nobby (1st), with the now 127 rated Kingofthecotswolds (2nd) only narrowly ahead of him.
He got off the mark when winning a bumper on his 18/19 seasonal debut. He made all to beat NTO winner, Jimmy The Digger, by just over a length. The pair pulled 10 lengths clear of the 3rd place finisher, Weapons Out. That rival went on to finish 4th in a red hot bumper; Floressa (1st, listed winner), Shantou Express (2nd, listed placed) & Shanroe (3rd, won three consecutive bumpers after this race) were the only three to finish ahead of him.
He’s disappointed on the majority of his hurdle starts to date, but he did run in some deep novice hurdles.
Nico De Boinville comes here for just the one ride; the trainer/jockey combination operate at an 18% S/R (+£57.95 to a £1 stake – all time record)
At the track, Nico has 20 wins and 24 places from just 80 rides while Pauling operates at a 21% S/R here.
Good ground is essential for the selection and his prominent running style will suit this track. There doesn’t appear to be many pace alternatives in the race, so Nico could well go from the front.
Still only 6yo, there’s still time for him to improve over hurdles. Back down to a class 5, everything looks set for a big run.
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