The Inside Track – November 2024

The Inside Track – November 2024

Climate change likely won’t be atop the incumbent new Head of the BHA, with plenty of other noisy joints needing oil but it should be, sooner rather than later.

A dry October rolled into a dry November, with the term ‘Anticylonic Gloom’ emerging into the public conscious for the first time. No end of gloom for racing trainers, owners and fans alike as the lack of rain made for a real difficulty to get the heavier set traditional National Hunt types onto the track leading to smaller field sizes and at times uncompetitive racing.

A strong case can be made for the need to urgently revisit how horses are required to be entered and how rigid the programme book can be, with a lack of flexibility and agility leading to horses ready to run being left all dressed up and nowhere to go.

That said, November was still a productive month on the track for the team at Greystoke kicked off in fine style by the highly promising Saracen Beau. A stunning grey in full flight is always one of the finest sights in racing and despite looking more of a staying type in his bumper, took an Ayr 2mile novice hurdle by 9 lengths. Well fancied by the market to take the rise in grade in his step in the listed Newton Novices hurdle at Haydock later in the month, he shaped as if amiss even though nothing came immediately to light. He is obviously much better than that and is one to look out for.

On the same Ayr card The Kalooki Kid made a highly encouraging start to his career over fences, with a narrow defeat at a trip that is likely to prove to be shorter than his optimal. It would be a surprise if he didn’t win a good handicap or two over the winter.

The first of a couple successful home fixtures at Carlisle saw Castle Rushen surging up the hill to land a good prize in the 2 1/2 mile handicap hurdle on Colin Parker Day. Having put up a string of better than result efforts over the past couple of seasons, it was great to see him put it all together. Had it not been for atrocious weather at Haydock in the valuable Betfair Stayers Hurdle he could have followed up, having travelled like the best horse in the race for long periods seemed to be found for stamina in the closing stages.

The progressive Luckie Seven headed to Kelso for his own attempt to land a nice prize on his first handicap start and ran well, though just didn’t quicken as well as the two in front of him off a fairly sedate pace. He is versatile trip wise and will be likely seen to best effect off a strong gallop.

Back at Carlisle, one of the yard’s leading lights Nells Son took a graduation chase involving a Cheltenham Festival winner, a recent Cheltenham winner and one destined for the top level. A fall from the strong travelling Kalif du Berlais robbed us of what would have been a great finish, but Nells Son fully deserved his big day here.

Summergrounds is one horse who has thrived on the conditions staying on the firmer side, adding another place to his sequence of 5 (including 1 win). With the rain finally starting to fall, he might be one ready for a break having been on the go since May but he’ll have plenty more opportunities to add to his win tally before long.

Castle Carrock made a tremendously impressive start to his career with an emphatic 16 length victory in an Ayr bumper. Although the time was nothing to write home about, the visual impression was obvious and it was no surprise that he fetched a three figure sum at the sales a few days later. He’ll be a loss to the northern racing scene but he’ll be one to watch out for under the care of Alan King.

Back on the track, Florida Dreams represented the yard and his owner in fine style with a hard fought fifth in the valuable Greatwood Hurdle. Although perhaps lacking the dept of some renewals, the quality was certainly there in the market principles and to be competitive with the likes of Burdett Road who has lofty targets in his sights augurs well for his future outings – whether that is remaining over hurdles or being unleashed over fences.

With Castle Rushen now having the winning feeling, hopefully some of that can rub off on Marown who again ran another strong race but finding one too good. He comes with a wealth warning for those that back him win only but he obviously wouldn’t be winning out of turn if he day finally comes.

One winner in waiting is Coniston George who was narrowly denied on his reappearance having looked like the winner at several points in the run in. He’ll likely set the standard wherever he turns up next.

Senor Lombardy was an interesting stable debutant, having run for Brian and Kelly Harding over the past few seasons under rules and then point to points. He gave a great account of himself at a big price in the 2022 Cheltenham Festival Hunter Chase and gives the impression he will stay much further than the bare 3 miles, so is one to keep an eye out for in a local national.

The month concluded at Doncaster, with the well backed Am Still Here failing to run his race. He remains of interest having been sent off fairly short prices on 4 of his 6 starts and could be the sort to rack up a sequence once everything clicks.

Star Performer

The exciting Kalif du Berlais was no certainty to have beaten Nells Son had he not fallen in a valuable Graduation Chase at Carlisle given how strongly he came up the hill. Given how well he ran in the 2023 Coral Cup a tilt at the Grand Annual wouldn’t be out of the question.

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