Rain in the morning turned the ground from 'good to firm, good in places' to 'good' by first race-time.

Things got underway with a modest novices' handicap hurdle over 2m3f, restricted to those rated 0-120. The pace was modest, making the race more of a test of speed, and the one to take out of it is the fourth home, Sparrow Hills.

Barney Curley's Zabeel Palace (medium height, good bodied), winner of poor races at Fontwell and Plumpton on his last two starts, looked a picture of health in the paddock - apart from being bandaged in front - and completed the hattrick, held up before turning up on the bit between the last two hurdles and just nudged out for a cheeky success. Appearing to have plenty in hand, another win could happen back over around 2m.

Karasakal was the pick of the paddock, a tallish, leggy type who should crack it as a chaser. Yet to win over hurdles, he was unlucky to run into one here, up there throughout and holding every chance at the last, and just as encouraging was the run of Dar Es Salaam, a bit backward and woolly in his coat on his first start for Jimmy Moffatt; he led when Sparrow Hills gave way two out but couldn't go on from the last.

Sparrow Hills, only workmanlike in size but the winner of a bumper and novices' hurdle at Southwell last season for Chris Bealby, was an interesting runner I thought on his first start for Charlie Mann, but he was definitely in need of the run in the paddock and seemed to find lack of match fitness getting him in the straight. Having dictated a modest pace, he was headed two out then weakened from the last, with the fifth Digger Gets Lucky gaining on him at the post. Likely to come down the weights a bit, he could be of interest next time with the run behind him.

In the 2m3f beginners' chase the runners were in varying states of fitness. It was taken by chancy jumper and Grand Annual-third French Opera (coat not there), only workmanlike in size and not really a chasing type; his lack of size is probably the chief contributary factor to the mistakes he makes and he blundered at the tenth this time, but was safe when left clear by Edgeover's bad error at the third last and won unchallenged. Unless he actually falls or unseats, I don't think his errors have cost him better finishes - at least not up to now - and he's likely to win another chase at up to this trip, but factor his jumping into the price you want about him.

Paul Webber's 33/1 shot Edgeover (workmanlike, deep-girthed), who was burly, ran way above expectations and will be interesting next time, but, like French Opera, makes the odd mistake on this evidence: always in the first two, he made an error at the sixth and a serious blunder three out when he still had a sniff of the lead did for him, but he stayed on in genuine fashion to hold on to second from the last. He'll stay three miles.

Free World (tall, well made), a disappointment so far over fences, ran his best race yet over the larger obstacles, keeping on from two out, and may now be getting the idea, while Approved Force (tallish, leggy, had two handlers) will be better for his reappearance and chasing debut (mistake fourth and no more between the last two).

The above-average novice hurdler at 2m Cockney Trucker, second favourite to French Opera at between 11/8 and 7/4, looked well for his reappearance and chasing debut and is a better type than French Opera (medium height), but had a parting of the ways with Richard Johnson at the third. He'll be back, but sadly another departure, that of Sanglote at the last, proved fatal. Ruby Walsh was trapped underneath the horse and, though he took his other rides at this meeting, didn't ride the following Monday.

There was a really competitive renewal of the Listed 3m handicap chase next. Some were fit whereas others looked as if they'd be better for the run, and my paddock best were Gone To Lunch, Shining Gale and Just Amazing. Of those who contested the good gallop, only Aimigayle was in the mix at the end.

The Irish-trained 33/1 shot The Last Derby (just over 100/1 on the Tote), who's anything but bred for three-mile chasing (dam is by Arazi), got every bit as unlikely a win for his jockey Liam Treadwell as Mon Mome's was. Everything dropped nicely for this five-year-old (yep, he's only five), held up midfield, going well coming up from Swinley Bottom and running on to lead two out and in no danger. He beat the mare Aimigayle (not a chasing type, looked well but bandaged behind), who rallied from the last after threatening to finish out of the placings, and Shining Gale (only leggy, looked well), who spent most of the race in the midfield-to-rear and only turned up at the finish, staying on well to be fair (good jumps last two), and may be flattered by this - possibly one to take on next time (doesn't always jump well).

Seven Is My Number is a lovely sort, a tall, leggy gelding by Pistolet Bleu. He looked well but was constantly jig-jogging round the paddock and sweated a bit behind. He did enough to suggest that he stayed the 3m but didn't impress with his finishing effort, getting there to hold every chance from two out but already off the bridle, and wandering/flattening out after the last. In fifth was Hold Em, who jumped better than usual but, after racing up there throughout, could find no more from the last, and next another interesting novice Just Amazing, who was also up there all the way until not fluent four out and ridden, holding every chance to two out but no more from the last.

The Scottish National winner Hello Bud looked wintry in his coat, a bit backward and sweating behind, but did very well in a race that was never going to suit this thorough stayer, setting a good gallop till headed four out and no extra. The runner-up at Ayr, Gone To Lunch, a tall, leggy, sparely made gelding who looked well for his reappearance, finished behind him again but hardly raced with the same zest, having lost his place at the seventh and struggled thereafter.

The last time Martha's Kinsman (dull in coat and 4 lbs out of the handicap) won a race it was over 3m6f, and he needs to be returned to that sort of test, as well as dropped in class, but this time showed up for a long way. Poker De Sivola was burly and, having hit the ninth, was off the bit three fences later, while the fancied-in-some-quarters Shouldhavehadthat was dull in his coat and, having lost his chance, was pulled up before two out.

Arguably the most interesting runner who didn't perform to expectations was Can't Buy Time (medium-to-tallish), who won four handicap chases last season and was fourth in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, in his case seriously let down by his jumping, and he should perhaps carry a warning sign next time. A serious blunder at the second resulted in A.P.McCoy losing the reins and that set the tone for the rest of the journey, the horse not fluent throughout. He should have more progress in him, as a seven-year-old Supreme Leader gelding, but after that jumping display, he's off limits next time.

The two 6/4 joint favourites fought out the finish of the six-runner 2m novices' hurdle. The double-penalised You're The Top, fit enough but with a bit to work on, made smooth headway to lead two out and stayed on well from the last as William Hogarth rallied, and with improvement for the outing likely judged on paddock appearance, will be of interest in handicaps.

William Hogarth (workmanlike, stocky, looked well) came from a race that's normally above-average - giving The Jigsaw Man a race in the maiden hurdle at Cheltenham's October meeting, despite poor jumping - and can't fail to win an ordinary novice hurdle this season, this time always up there, making an error at the fifth, leading three out with a good jump and boxing on for pressure when You're The Top went on. He put in a better round of jumping this time. Third Valento (medium height, leggy) wasn't expected to beat You're The Top on form from last season, but wasn't put into the race at any time, nearest at the finish (albeit a distance behind the second).

Plenty of interest in the Listed 2m handicap hurdle. Much of the interest - actually bordering on hype in this instance - revolved around the above-average novice hurdler last season Micheal Flips, but he needed the run. The winner is a progressive one, but the fourth Gee Dee Nen is the one to take out of the race.

Dani's Girl, who looked well and is only workmanlike in appearance, made light of a step up in grade and may not have stopped yet. She turned up on the bit between the last two as if she'd just joined in and was ridden out from the last. Unfortunately, she doesn't hold an entry in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Pascha Bere, a medium height gelding who was on his toes, could be going chasing this season; fit enough and on his toes, he was up with the pace throughout and could do nothing about the winner from the last.

The media were banging on about Micheal Flips from early in the week, but he didn't deliver on the day; a medium height, well made gelding who has the size and build for fences, he looked to need the run in the paddock but essentially struggled for the pace to land a blow over this 2m, off the bridle from Swinley Bottom and keeping on late. Worth another try over 2m4f, he'll presumably be over fences next time. Despite a Kempton win I've a feeling that he'll be better going left-handed, as he has jumped left before.

Gee Dee Nen (workmanlike, deep girthed) posted his wins and best placed form over 3m for Jim Best last season and wouldn't have been expected to be a factor over the minimum trip on his reappearance; looking fit enough on his first start for Gary Moore, he was sensibly asked to force the pace, lasting until Pascha Bere went on off the home turn. Likely to be better for the run, he'll surely be back over the three miles that he needs next time.

Not a lot from the rest, Norman The Great (pick of the paddock) lacking in the finish - not a first with this one, who hasn't yet confirmed the form of his promising debut against Binocular here as a juvenile - and Kickahead now looking held in the weights, not turning up late on the bridle here in this better race as he has been doing hitherto, although he could be better left-handed (only one win to his name when going right). Alsadaa (wintry in his coat) was unable to dominate, and Classic Swain didn't want to know.

Wessex King, although tailed off here, is one to note when he goes over fences; a tallish, lengthy gelding trained by Henry Daly, although he looked well, he ran as if the outing was needed. He'll have his day later this season.

A fast and frantic early dash ensued in the 2m1f Listed handicap chase, which should have gone to the runner-up Fix The Rib. This time the ones to take out of it are the winner Master Medic, when running over 2m4f or more, and the runner-up over the minimum trip. The first fence coming away from Swinley Bottom was omitted owing to a patch of false ground.

Master Medic, not seen again after winning over this course and distance in November, looked a bit backward in the paddock and was edgy, but resumed his terrific progress up the ratings. As was the case in December he won despite, rather than because of, the trip, always prominent, appearing to struggle from four out but staying on to head Fix The Rib two out and ridden out for a length and a quarter-victory.

I wouldn't back this tall gelding over as short a trip as this, so it was an excellent performance - not just to win over 2m1f but doing so when, at least judged on my reading of him in the paddock, he was lacking peak fitness. He really needs to go over 2m4f (he travelled much better on his way to winning the Macer Gifford at Huntingdon last November over that trip, in which he beat Atouchbetweenacara who subsequently won the Grade 2 Limited Handicap at Cheltenham in April), and could even get 3m.

Before that time comes, he'll have to go left-handed at some stage. That could be in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, in which he has 11-1 and would come off his new handicap mark of 150.

Fix The Rib, a revelation in winning four chases last season, looked in good order for his reappearance (improved in that department compared to my previous viewing of him at Folkestone back in January). Philip Hide took over from Jamie Moore in the saddle and overdid the forcing tactics, but for which I fancy he'd have won this. Going freely in front, he'd gone plenty fast enough in the first mile, then Hide sent him further clear going to five out, and ended up setting it up for Master Medic, unable to find extra from the last when he was in front. This was a much improved performance and I'm keen to see where he ends up next. He looks a two-miler through and through.

Lord Henry (well made, looked very well), who often leads, went nowhere near the pace this time; he was hampered when Medicinal fell at the fifth and was nearest at the finish after running through beaten ones. Fourth Nikola (tallish, leggy, angular, looked well) is better at 2m4f and also only turned up late, and fifth Royal Wedding (dip-backed, looked a bit backward) also needs further and paid late on for making an effort around five out. In sixth was Psychomodo (medium-to-tallish, fit enough), who was unable to make it a hattrick of reappearance wins at Ascot, a combination of jumping errors (mistake third) and trying to mix it with Fix The Rib early doing for him.

The 2008 Galway Plate winner Oslot (looked well) made no contribution to proceedings, also hampered by the faller at the fifth. I have to be honest, the performances of Paul Nicholls's runners at this meeting had me wondering 'how come he's champion trainer if his horses run like that?'.

Closing the card was an ordinary 2m National Hunt Flat race, and if there's a long term prospect amongst the runners here, it's Present To You, while closer to hand, keep an eye on Natural Spring.

Nodforms Violet (medium-to-tallish, leggy) dictated thanks to a stop-start ride from Graham Lee - with the benefit of hindsight, it seemed significant that Lee was here and not at Wetherby - and he had enough in reserve to repel raiders inside the last furlong.

Suzy Smith occasionally runs a half-decent prospect in bumpers, especially one that's a filly or a mare (the one-eyed Material World is still fresh in the mind), and I liked Natural Spring in the paddock. A workmanlike filly by Generous, she looked fully fit and ran a very nice race, always up there and outpaced in the last two furlongs. We'll hear a bit more of this one.

Among the rest third Island Jim (medium height, unfurnished) was also prominent throughout, and was followed by Present To You, a leggy, unfurnished Presenting four-year-old trained by Henrietta Knight. Definitely in need of the run, and not there in his coat, his fourth-placing must be taken as encouraging, lacking pace in the straight having held a chance six furlongs out, and this one may well be around in three years' time. Next in was Irish Airman (leggy), who looked very well for his debut but didn't get the run of the race, starting his effort before the home turn, which meant that he had little left for the last furlong. Shaping well enough for team Nicholls all the same, this one will probably win the bumper at Wincanton on Boxing Day, but this Broadway Flyer gelding lacks scope for the long term.

It was an excellent card, with plenty of promising performances as I'd hoped, but I still regret not going to the Charlie Hall, and when this raceday comes in 2010, the aim is to stick to Plan A.

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© Roy Waterhouse
2009

'The Meal Deal'