Newcastle Thursday Review

A fantastic day at Newcastle yesterday was nearly a full red letter day for the yard, as Honda Fifty just failed by a nose to hang on for victory in his bumper with Dali Mail having won the previous race on his chasing debut.

Honda Fifty has been runner up, albeit by a fair margin, on his racecourse debut here at Newcastle in March so had experience on his side. Nevertheless, this looked a competitive bumper beforehand as there were 3 or 4 horses with fair, at least, bumper form to their credit. Add in a highly regarded €78k purchase from Rose Dobbin's yard, a couple - though probably more for the future - from Kinneston Nick, a very nicely bred sort of Lucinda Russell's and the field started to shape up.

But the eventual winner was a debutant from Sue Smith, the Schiaparelli gelding Aire Valley Yard.

Back to the race itself, and Callum made good use of Honda Fifty's experience by keeping the Arakan gelding handy throughout. It was an easy job to do, since Honda Fifty travelled like a dream, so much so that with 2f to go, Callum eased through into the lead and soon drew a couple of lengths clear. Around the furlong marker, Honda Fifty appeared to get lonely in front and had a good look around him so the last 100 yards was a tightly fought affair between our gelding and Aire Valley Yard. Last stride and it was Sue's gelding that got the nod. Oh well............

This was an excellent performance, as there was 8 lengths back to the third and the remainder came home in single file, so the form of the first two in this race has a solid look about it.

Nice gelding, not overbig, so we'll probably try to win a bumper before tacking hurdles.

Honda Fifty (Callum) on the right of Eternally Yours (Kingy)

Dali Mail impressive in winning on chasing debut

For a final round of schooling prior to the race, it was a wet and windy Tuesday afternoon that greeting the team on arrival at Nick Orpwood's yard near Kelso. After a couple of warm-up jumps over some tyres, Dali Mail tackled the line of 5 chase fences and completed these 3 times. Jumped well, but the racecourse is the ultimate test in racing conditions.

The 2 mile novice chase each year on this Newcastle card is often used on the initial jumping schedule of a nice type. Waiting Patiently won this event a couple of seasons ago and this year saw a select group of 4 opponents for Dali Mail.
Triple hurdle winner I'm To Blame had a previous run over fences when second to subsequent winner Two for Gold while the more experienced Ravenhill Road had been Grade 3 placed over fences and came into the race on the back of a fine return to form when runner up to Good Boy Bobby at Carlisle a month previous.
Two other chase debutants made up the field, triple hurdle winner Glinger Flame and the ex Henderson, JP McManus owned Protek des Flos, a 136 rated triple hurdle winner returning from a lay-off for Ben Haslam.

Callum settled the keen going Dali Mail (a winner of a bumper and a hurdle race in his own right) in rear, and the grey responded by jumping well, nothing spectacular early on, just keeping a nice rhythm. Turning for home with 4 to jump and it was odds-on favourite I'm To Blame out in front chased by Protek des Flos with Dali Mail starting to take closer order in 4th.
The pace had quickened significantly over 3 out but Dali Mail was still travelling ominously well on the heels of the leading pair. A strong run from our lad approaching the last, a super jump and he was soon challenging I'm To Blame and poked his head in front 200 yards from the post to surge clear for a comfortable victory.

Astonishing performance - travelled well, jumped well, quickened when asked - from a horse who we have always rated highly, but maybe not quite enough to win first time over fences in this company.  View the full race video :

Wonderful!

 
The grey Dali Mail (Callum) jumps the last poised to challenge