Showcase Meeting: seven beaten runners who caught the eye

Flooring Porter, Encanto Bruno and Lookaway stole the show when Cheltenham’s new season got underway with The Showcase over the weekend.

That trio enhanced their claims of Festival glory five months from now and the meeting often yields some valuable pointers for March, with a total of 20 runners since 2008 going on to score at that meeting in the same season.

I’m not sure the seven horses below, all beaten, are bound for Festival glory but they appeal as horses to follow over the coming weeks and months.

AMIRITE

Trainer: Henry De Bromhead. What happened? Fourth in the Epic Jumps Season At William Hill Handicap Chase.

He’s going to get the rub of the green at some stage, isn’t he? The seven-year-old tanked along on Saturday but was too exuberant for his own good and then, to compound matters, Rachael Blackmore had to cope with a saddle that had slipped over the final fences. In the circumstances, his fourth needs plenty of marking up. Last season, he clearly hadn’t been right when sent off favourite for the Irish Grand National and his misfortune before that included Blackmore being knocked out of the saddle by a rival when travelling fluently in Grade One company at Leopardstown, plus a blunder probably costing him a Grade Two prize at Punchestown. There are definitely decent staying prizes to be won with him over the months ahead provided he gets a bit more luck.

BELLS OF PETERBORO

Trainer: Tim Vaughan. What happened? Eighth in the Close Brothers Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase.

Those who sent the grey off favourite for his 3m 1f handicap chase would have been on good terms with themselves heading to two out as he was still in the lead travelling powerfully. Then it all went wrong as he sprawled badly on landing (it looked more a slip than a mistake) and lost all chance. He didn’t pick up again once recovering his equilibrium so it would be going too far to say he was an unlucky loser but, nevertheless, it was a clear indicator that he’s in form and capable of taking advantage of a mark that is lower than he is rated over hurdles. He will find easier 0-125 contests than this and if his connections can find him a race at his beloved Chepstow, a track that puts less emphasis on jumping, then so much the better. He will be worth an entry in the Welsh Grand National Trial there in early December, although if the race attracts horses rated 145-plus then he will no doubt be left languishing out of the handicap.

DUBROVNIK HARRY

Trainer: Harry Fry. What happened? Fourth in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle.

Trainer Harry Fry spoke about Dubrovnik Harry on Racing TV before his run in the Pertemps qualifier, revealing the seven-year-old had issues last term (disappointed in his three races) but that he was hopeful the issues that affected him had been resolved and that his lightly raced horse could resume his progress. Dubrovnik Harry never looked like winning but I’d imagine everyone connected with him was delighted with his staying-on fourth to Hyland. What was most encouraging was the way he finished his race off. Provided he doesn’t recoil, Dubrovnik Harry looks certain to exploit his mark of 125 and, of course, he’s now qualified for the Pertemps Final in March. Fry also has the option of switching him to fences, a sphere in which he should also prosper.

HADDEX DES OBEAUX

Trainer: Gary Moore. What happened? Fell in the Epic Value At William Hill Handicap Chase

There was a sense of déjà vu about the Gary Moore-trained gelding exiting at the final fence at Cheltenham on Saturday, as he had also blundered away his rider at the last on his return at Newton Abbot a year before. His spill at the latter track didn’t stop him progressing and I doubt his mishap on Saturday will, either. Front-running Haddex Des Obeaux impressed with the way he jumped and travelled, pulling rivals out of their comfort zones. He had been joined by Dancing On My Own when departing although that’s not to say he would not have pulled out a bit extra and finished the job off. This was only his fifth start over fences and, rated 146, he has some way to go before dining at the top table in this division. The door is open for fresh faces, though, and it’s worth remembering his best effort of last season, at Warwick, was achieved on much deeper ground than he encountered here.

HERE COMES GEORGIE

Trainer: Patrick Neville. What happened? Last of nine in the Trustatrader Novices' Hurdle.

While most were gushing over Encanto Bruno’s slick display in this race, I was scribbling notes about Here Comes Georgie in my Racing TV Tracker: “Keep an eye out for him when in low-grade 2m handicaps”. I’m sharing that with you, now, in the belief he will get a rating in the high 90s or maybe low 100s. Here Comes Georgie was out of his depth at Cheltenham and was again running over a trip, 2m 4f, that had looked to stretch him on his penultimate start. His Betfair starting price of more than 500/1 rather summed up his chances but he was still in the picture two out before going backwards. He’s capable of making an impact when tried at a more realistic level.

LALLYGAG

Trainer: Paul Nicholls. What happened? Eighth in the Abu Dhabi Digital Markets Handicap Hurdle.

Paul Nicholls ran eight horses at the Showcase Meeting and the bulk looked in need of the run, or perhaps found the ground a little softer than ideal. They finished 72678100. His one winner over the two days, Blueking D’Oroux, drifted like a barge in the betting but prevailed because he had much the best form and several of his rivals did plenty wrong. I wouldn’t be in a hurry to write off any of his team and will be keeping the faith in Lallygag, who moved well for a long way in this contest before fading. He progressed well as a novice last season, winning three times (all at right-hand tracks) and running well in defeat on other others, especially when chasing home Grey Dawning on one occasion at Exeter when trying to concede 10lb. Grey Dawning went on to win in Grade Two company and is rated 141. Lallygag ran off 133 on Saturday and, likely to be eased a bit, should be found plenty of opportunities.

WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT

Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies. What happened? Third in the William Hill Lengthen Your Odds Novices’ Chase.

Last, but not least. I’m a sucker for big brutes like him but they can often be expensive to follow because they are not always the easiest to keep sound plus or the nimblest. Everything about Weveallbeencaught, including his pedigree, screams staying chaser and his third on his debut over fences on Saturday behind two-time Stayers’ Hurdle winner Flooring Porter was most encouraging as he jumped well but simply didn’t have the gears to keep up in the closing stages. I’d imagine he will be a regular at Cheltenham this winter, in either graded or handicap company (mark of the mid 130s is on the cards after this). He already looks a likely sort for the 3m 6f National Hunt Chase in March, with the 50/1 offered by BetVictor well worth a second look. Tiger Roll finished third in this race before winning the National Hunt Chase in 2016, while Chicago Grey and Galvin also ran in this race before scooping that prize.