4th November - Down Royal Review (AW)

4th November – Down Royal

Going; Yielding to Soft, Soft in places (Times suggest Soft or heavier)

Tango Jim won the first, once again confirming the apparent need for a run of most of Noel Meade’s runners. The performance was nice and gives a good boost to Catch Me’s form, whom he was beaten by on debut. I am still convinced the handicap route with Kingsmaster will yield success in time.

Cluin Arra put in a decent performance to show much improved form in the handicap hurdle. There was no real indication of this victory coming and it is hard to assess quite what she can do next. It seems that the extra trip and, having a previous run for the season under her belt may have meant that she stepped into the handicap well off and in good heart. Another win would not be beyond her but due to the previous lack of form it would pay to be careful.

Victram a confirmed handicapper, put in a real gutsy effort to snatch this race from Moore’s Law. Watching the race I felt that I had possibly underestimated Moore’s Law a little but I think my last review was fairly realistic. He will provide connections with some fun over the winter, although he may still have another win in him. Meanwhile Victram will head for Ascot. The performance does need improvement and I fear the English handicapper may be harsh for what was a fair performance.

Beef Or Salmon’s hurdle debut was good and clearly put him in good heart. To be totally honest I think that the race for me was a perfect exhibition of War Of Attrition’s class. Without wanting to sound in the least bit negative towards Beef Or Salmon for putting in a really tough performance, War Of Attrition looked really classy. I am not a major War Of Attrition fan and have no particular great sway for any of the runners in the race but I could not fail to be impressed by how well War Of Attrition measures fences, revs the engine easily when required and does it all so nicely. Full credit to the tough nut Beef Or Salmon, it’s good to see a performance like this, the ground was more to his liking and Conor O’Dwyer really didn’t have to go out there and beat War Of Attrition up. Best Mate was always looked after too well by connections for me and I hated that, but the same can’t be attributed to Mouse Morris. They will take in races and mix it with the best and to be fair, they don’t have anything to think about apart from Cheltenham and defending the crown, just like Henrietta used to but, for me this was a real piece of quality. War Of Attrition has no worries at the moment on this evidence. Does Beef Or Salmon earn his place at Cheltenham just for the spectacle it is this year, or will they finally just let it go and take it on the chin?

In Compliance survived a major blunder to run out a simple and stylish looking winner of the Grade 3 Chase. The performance was not outstanding, not in the class of the races that he has been connected with, but it did offer hope for those that think that he may be a force to be reckoned with come the end of the season. For me, there is more to be found, it was his first run of the season, and his mistake may fairly be attributed to being almost too fresh and over exuberant for his first engagement in a poorly contested race. The winner is better than this, but for me the jury is out on how much better until I see some more convincing evidence. I could not find myself saying that he is better than stable mate Forget The Past but at this stage he does at least have scope.

A trappy handicap went the way of Keevas Boy. The form may be fair and could well hold up a little bit more than face value. The winner appears to like a trip but is by no means a consistent sort. Mon Oiseau seemed to be brought here to win but may find victory hard to come by as the handicapper wont let him off, despite him looking held at the weights, the same comment applies to many of the runners in this race.