A review of this weekend's racing including five names to keep on side this jumps season
Beyond The Clouds
Oddschecker’s resident horse racing expert Andy Holding tipped up Kevin Ryan’s four-year-old to the tune on four points on Sunday off the back of an impressive bumper win last time out. Making his bow over hurdles at Kelso over the two mile trip, he travelled strongly throughout from the front and although he was a bit sketchy at times over his hurdles, he pulled way clear with the runner-up from the rest of the field and an exciting season should lie ahead for connections.
Beyond The Clouds (4-6) repels Some Reign on his hurdling debut at @KelsoRacecourse. First two pulled well clear and nice prospects. pic.twitter.com/yaE55dba2w
— Racing UK (@Racing_UK) October 8, 2017
Forest Bihan
A talented novice last season, Brian Ellison’s six-year-old put in an impressive performance at Kelso in what looked a strong handicap for this time of year. Giving weight to the majority of the field, Danny Cook gave him a lovely ride, sitting midfield in what looked a strong gallop. Eased through the field in the closing stages, he jumped to the front in taking style and appeared to idle up the run in on his way to a 1 ¾ length victory.
Palmers Hill
An expensive recruit from the Cheltenham sale, the point-to-point winner cost JP McManus over £300,000 and on the early evidence it appears money well spent. Despite being weak in the market before the off, the four-year-old travelled supremely throughout under Aidan Coleman, hitting the front on the bridle. Although he didn’t quite put the race to bed as emphatically as it looked he would, he looked a little lazy in front and having won his point over 3m his performance on Sunday was one of huge promise. Bookmakers were suitably impressed too adding him to the Supreme Hurdle ante-post market at 33/1.
Nice future? Palmers Hill - a £310,000 purchase from the Irish point-to-point ranks - wins cosily on Rules debut at @UttoxeterRaces: pic.twitter.com/Tj0X01R6mS
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 8, 2017
Fayonagh
Sent off at 2/13 for her hurdles debut, Gordon Elliott’s Grade 1 bumper winner cruised to victory under a motionless Davey Russell. Keeping things simple from the off, Russell lead from the off with the mare putting in a number of slick leaps including at the last when under a degree of pressure from her rivals. All options appear open for March with the mare prominent in the ante-post betting for no fewer than five races and favourite for both the Neptune (14/1) and Mares Novices Hurdle (5/1).
The fantastic Fayonagh - back for the new season at @Fairyhouse on Saturday! pic.twitter.com/FoXYGW5SMP
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 4, 2017
Russian Roulette
Also at Fairyhouse on Saturday, Charles O’Brien’s six-year-old impressed on the clock when winning the 2m handicap hurdle. At first showing it was easy to be impressed by how he stayed on strongly up the final straight to come from mid-division to lead after the last but when you also consider he ran the final circuit 3.4 seconds that the impressive Fayonagh earlier on the card, it marks it out as a performance to note.
