JERSEY RACE CLUB

Preview, Friday evening 1st July meeting.

by Bobsbest.

The weekend starts here. The place Les Landes, the time 6.30 Friday for the Jersey Race Club’s annual midsummer evening fixture.

Quilter, long time and valued supporters of Jersey racing are putting up the prize for the fixture’s most valuable event; the Quilter Handicap will be run over nine furlongs and has attracted a field of eight. There are virtually no opportunities for maidens in the programme, so horses that have not won are forced to run in handicaps under automatic top weight. Thus we have the odd situation where 3-year-old maiden Grey Panel is required to give weight to all but one of his older opponents. He didn’t run at all badly on his debut, but is best watched until he earns a proper rating. Joint top weight is Sculastic, a smart hurdler in 2007, but off for a while and unsighted on his return. Next comes Sissi Guihen, a revelation this term winning three handicaps on the bounce thanks to some lenient treatment; it’s unlikely the handicapper has got hold of her yet and she seems certain to run a big race even though back in trip. Alyson Malzard runs four in the race and Superduper is another outperformer; much improved upped to a mile under Rob Kirk, it wasn’t the slightly longer trip that was her undoing last time so she’ll get the extra furlong here. La Verte Rue is finding her form and improved again last time when only just held close home by King Kenny; Superduper was 6 lengths adrift and only gets a 2lb pull, but the latter didn’t fire that day and should be forgiven one poor run. The Malzard team is completed by One Cool Poppy who is being eased by the handicapper, but still has it to do. The field is made up by Vamos, whose two good runs have been followed by two poor attempts, and Beck’s Bolero who is allowed 2lb for the half-length he was beaten by La Verte Rue; he is likely to spoil a Malzard 1,2,3.

The evening starts with the Philip Benest Memorial Handicap Hurdle, sponsored by the shy “Mrs Koka”. Respecting her privacy, it should nevertheless be noted Koka Fast’s owner is also the generous individual who provided the racecourse with its excellent viewing facility for disabled racegoers. Philip Benest, in whose memory the race is named, was the first local owner of champion hurdler Koka Fast. Sadly the latter will not be in the line up, leaving Silver Silence at the head of the weights. A talented, but very frustrating gelding, he needs to be delivered late because when he hits the front he decides he’s done enough; he is running well at present and the same could have been said of stablemate Nordic Affair until he blotted his copybook on the flat in May. He is another who has to have thing go his way and he seems unlikely to get the decent pace he needs with just four runners and no natural pacemaker. National Monument was last of four behind Anfield Road in a maiden hurdle last month, but gets lumps of weight, which leaves the obvious choice, Azaria who was second to Anfield Road that day and then made all to beat Nordic Affair and Koka Fast much more easily than the three quarter length margin would indicate.

The Blackrock Handicap brings together the stayers in this mile and three quarters event. This is trickier than it appears at first sight. Sans Sa Dame stays this trip and won the race in 2009, but he was well beaten in it last year and seemed not quite to get home behind Landolino in May; she was then a fair third to Sissi Guihen last time. She seems sure to go off favourite again, but he may be one of the Malzard runners that the handicap has got the measure of. Garden Party is very decent at his best, but we haven’t seen that since Easter and Tom Bougourd’s small team has not been in the greatest form. Bollin Fergus reverts to the flat after a couple of disappointing hurdle attempts; they may have freshened him up and he gets 18lb and more from the field. Landolino won well at this trip before being swamped for speed behind Sissi Guihen and will appreciate the return to further. What can one say about Danehill Dazzler? A standing dish for so long, everything seemed right for her last time, but she was beaten a length by Sissi Guihen and it is becoming expensive making excuses; at her best she’s home and hosed even at a trip possibly beyond her optimum, and she was second in this last year. It may pay to side with younger legs.

The Episode Fund Handicap sees seven line up over seven furlongs and number seven seems to have a good chance. Toggle is the mount of Jemma Marshall, a stylish and effective young apprentice who does not get the opportunities her talents deserve; Toggle ran his best race for some time behind Lady Petrus in a big field, low level handicap ten days ago and although this is a better race and he is 3lb out of the handicap I expect a big run. High Voltage was taken off his feet by some speed merchants last time, but he retains a bit of class and may improve. Major Maximus ran a personal best last time while Annia Galeria didn’t get away in a particularly bad start in the same race; she is one likely to go well at a decent price while Athania was another sufferer at the start who can make her presence felt if breaking on level terms. However, they may all have to give best to Fast Freddie who is running consistently well.

The Cenkos Channel Islands Handicap is a low level event over a mile and a quarter and, as is so often the case, these more modest handicappers will provide an exciting getting out stakes, if by no means an easy one to unravel. The starter may have to be patient as some of these are not among the best behaved; still, punters deserve a run for their money which those who backed Hold The Bucks, Cronkyvoddy and River Du Nord did not get last time. On that occasion I went for Hold The Bucks who looked an absolute picture in the parade ring and may be worth another chance. Of the rest Grenane is in good form and a model of consistency, Fine The World ran well last time and Lady Petrus ran even better, finally getting her head in front after 14 frustrating runs.

Spare a thought for the stable grooms who polish up their charges to look their best on the night; the efforts of those judged to have done best will be rewarded with cash prizes donated by Le Gallais and Luce.

SELECTIONS

Azaria

Landolino

Superduper

Fast Freddie

Hold The Bucks