I'll start by mentioning one which not get headlines today but was an early indicator for what should turn out to be the start of a very good season over fences for Henry Daly and in particular POSSOL. Unfancied in the tissue prices overnight and 5/1, the shrewd would have noticed that although this was a very obvious season opener over hurdles before another chase campiagn he was in company that should not have been up to his class and should have been getting on Betfair at the generosity on offer, and so it was to be. Backed in to 11/8 favouritism, he never looked in doubt and won in emphatic style, boding well for the coming months in which we are most likley to see him taking on more hurdle races to keep his Chase mark sufficiently low to give him the best chance in the target of the Grand National. he probably has some more to do to be winning that event, but we shall be keeping a close eye on his progress.
Just prior to that race PEPE SIMO continued his quiet demolition of everything he faces in winning a small field event in the opener at Haydock. Will be interesting if he is steered toward the Supreme Novices, and we will have to see how he fares if taking up a place in the Tolworth. This was a third appearance for Paul Nichols charge and he remains unbeaten. Whilst not a betting event for me due to the weight he was giving away on official ratings, he destroyed the runner up to whom he would have been giving away 13lbs. Suggesting he is improving at an alarming rate.
One of the best bets of the day was to be had at Haydock with DIAMOND HARRY coming into the race as big as 6/1 to get back to winning ways. His only defeat in seven outings to date had come at the Ballymore Novices at Cheltenham, and this has been the last time we had seen him. Previous to that he had the beating of Bensalem and Tataniano, both of whom hasd already appeared and won this term. He travelled really well and went right around the wide outside throughout. A mark of 149 and top weight, he completly turned over those factors and never truely came off the bridle, Timmy Murphy so completly confident he had so much more beneath him that he played with Burton Port in the closing stages. Be careful in considering this form for the runner up later in the season, had they both been all out, he would have been a further 10 lngths down. Chasing or hurdling? thats the question, presonally i would love to see him in the World hurdle, but the Royla Sun Alliance chase is also a possibility. One way or another, the cat is out of the bag and he looks a class act now.
Nicky Henderson has returned from his "holiday" in the summer with his string in good order, and none so more than ZAYNAR. He showed his battling skills last year at Cheltenham in staying up the hill and beating WALKON in the Triumph hurdle, who we will not be seeing this term after injury has ruled him out for year. Up against KATCHIT and KARABAK, he looked to have a handful to contend with, but travelled well throughout and went clear with some ease to score an impressive win. With Punjabi and Binocular in his armoury prices on a Henderson winner in the Champion Hurdle will be short right now and a quote for ZAYNAR at 8/1 now will likely roll out to double figures at some stage and would be worth considering.
Onto the big guns and the focus was on Ditcheat again with the much anticipated seasonal reappearance of the great Champion, and only ever runner to have retained, after a break, the Gold Cup crown at Cheltenham KUATO STAR. It was unlikely the early morning odds for would last and so it was. they were snapped up and he went off a 4/6 hot favourite to emerge victor over Welsh National winner NOTRE PERE. Once again not a betting event, but rather one to watch to see what couls be taken out the race for future reference. IMPERIAL COMMANDER and MADISON DE BERLAIS were the main opposition as far aslast seaosn improvement were concerned and it would be interesting to see how far they had come up against the ultimate benchmark. The former available pre race at 25/1 for the Gold Cup was probably the one to be speculating with, a small ante-post dabble was in order. NOTRE PERE never looked like he would be able to muster muchof a challenge and was beaten a long way out, and as IMPERIAL COMMANDER upped the pace and all but the champ fell away, it was a question of who would stay the trip, at this point, KAUTO STAR would have been tradin very short with his rival hitting this far for the first time on a race track. Despite the fav coming off the bridle quite early it stilled looked the favourites race to lose as he out jumped Imperial Commander. however, between the fences the latter kept coming back to him. They hit the final fence together and locked horns for the run in, Imperial commander looked to have been peggin back inch by inch to get up on the line. It was a tight finish and plenty would have bee lost in backing the challenger to have won, at first glance when they crossed the line, Kauto looked to have had to settle for a runner up spot once again on his seasonla bow, but to a chorus of boos on course the call was his and his stall was set out for the year and his battling qualities highlighted. No doubt, considering the distance between the winner and third and behind, this run was up there with his best and consideration must be given to the improvement Imperial Commander has achieved. That 25/1 ante post voucher looks value now. We'll see what Denman has next weekend. I've long though the Gold Cup, whilst still likely to be billed as Denman v Kauto (part 3), will be a more open race this year with new chanllengers improving to the level required. The winter will provide more clues.
It was left to ALAN KING and his VOY POR USTEDES to see what he could achieve down at Ascot. As it was some may have been disappointed to see him up against from a way out, but staying on really well, a step back up in trip will surely be on the cards. ALBERTAS RUN confirmed his questioned class by running away with the race, and note should be taken of what
he achieved here today. His last win was in the RSA at Cheltenham in 2008. Form reader however should have noticed his beating of VOY POR in the King George last year just 8 lengths nehind KAUTO STAR. He was certainly underestimated in being allowed ot go off as long as 7/1 for this. PLANET OF SOUND made a huge mistake at the ninth fence and but for that he may have been much closer or perhaps have been the one making his way to the winners enclosure post race. As it was he stayed on really well and will be winning a race pretty soon.
A brilliant days racing was had and plenty of notes to add to the book for consideration for the coming months. National hunt truly is king of racing, for getting the blood racing around the veins and engaging the attention of the public
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