On The Clock

Grace A Vous Enki (124) duly landed his tenth course victory when taking the Coronation Cup at Larkhill finally registering a time figure in line with the form value of his performance. Remarkably many of his previous wins had come in relatively moderately run affairs  but here his rivals, several of whom had clocked decent recent times, attempted to take him out of his comfort zone by setting a strong pace from the outset.  If anything, though, this suited Grace en Vous Enki down to the ground and visually he ran out a very impressive and easy winner. It will be interesting to see what path connections now take as most of the other top events are held on left handed tracks and Grace A Vous Enki was only a tame third when sent off favourite for the Lady Dudley Cup a couple of years ago.

Earlier the Restricted was split with both divisions going to very promising types. I had flagged up Woodstock Octo on his debut and he had things well in hand by the end of the second division but of  more immediate interest is the winner of the first, Boley Bob (116). He and eventual runner-up Follow My Order (112) had the last half mile of this race to themselves but, having quickened to lead on the run to the last,  Boley Bob found himself briefly headed jumping the last. However, he then displayed an impressive turn of foot to regain the lead on the flat – in fact looking, when passing the post, as if he had plenty in hand. For a horse to quicken twice in a race is a rare commodity and Boley Bob looks to have a very bright future and will presumably follow a similar the path to that taken by stablemate Barton Snow last season.

Reel Much Fun (94), a tall, taking sort, was race fit after a couple of earlier outings and took a  competitive maiden at Higham in good style. He had actually finished well behind Boley Bob in an Irish maiden last May but is a very different type physically and should progress as he fills his frame.

Paddy Moans (100) was another to improve substantially when landing the opening race at Friars Haugh. He had pulled up at Sheriff Hutton the time before but here showed both speed and resolution over the final circuit to hold off the persistent Where’s Willy. The first half of this race was run at a crawl and the time figure relies heavily on a sectional upgrade so it maybe that a similar small field or a contest run over two and a half miles might suit.

Later, Sharing is Caring (97) posted a figure five pounds in advance of his form rating when taking the Restricted. He has yet to finish out if the first three and victory here paid another compliment to Entity of Substance who had defeated him decisively at the Thurlow.     

Here are the best figures for the weekend’s sole surviving meeting at Duncombe Park .

12:00 THE SINNINGTON HUNT MEMBERS, SUBSCRIBERS & FARMERS RACE, 3M: Morozov Cocktail (IRE)(99)

1:10 THE RESTRICTED RACE, 3M: Byorderofthecourt (IRE) (103)

 2:20 THE MIXED OPEN RACE, 3M: Gracchus de Balme (FR) (130) Surprise Attack (IRE) (125)

 2:55 THE MAIDEN RACE (NWFAA), 3M: Hogan (IRE) (102) Job Well Done (IRE) (94)