Clues from the Course

Between 1 November and 11 November, the At The Races web team published over 100 video clips taken from Sky Sports Racing, including big weekend race previews, post-race reactions from winning jockeys, trainers and winning, breaking news stories, and more. 

With so much video content being published out daily, there is scope for some useful content to go under the radar. Often, it is at the quieter meetings where trainers will have more time to give our presenters a rundown of how several key players are ticking along back at base, for example.

With that in mind, this article acts as a hub for an array of Sky Sports Racing video highlights which may have been overlooked. 

Be it a package of race replays and relevant reactions, race planning updates from trainers, past form that continues to prosper or interviews that reveal more than we bargained for, this is the place to find them.

A few for the future:

CORNER FORWARD

Trainer: A J Honeyball | Jockey: Harry Cobden

8 November, Ffos Las - Golwg Gwendraeth Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2m4f)

A short-priced J.P. McManus runner making an appearance almost five hours away from their base should always be noted, particularly at a SP of 5-4 after 201 days off the track. Backers of Corner Forward had far from a plain sailing watch on Saturday, though. Billy Butcher’s exit at the third severely hampered Harry Cobden’s mount, almost bringing the pair down. Take nothing away from Cobden, who made split-second decisions to keep the partnership intact; but the saying of a proper horse finding their own way out of trouble sprang to mind here. Met with another inconvenience when Jet Joe edged left and almost swept Corner Forward off his feet at the last, the latter was coaxed to a sneaky half-length victory at the line.

I will be closely monitoring the targets Anthony Honeyball earmarks for this five-year-old. He looks considerably better value than the half-length margin might suggest, winning with any amount in hand. 

PRESLEY

Trainer: Dan Skelton | Jockey: Harry Skelton

5 November, Newbury - CSP Maiden Hurdle (2m½f)

The Skelton juggernaut continues to roll on with horses who are either making monstrous switches to the bigger obstacles this season, turning bumper contests into routs, and others who are very much learning on the job as they negotiate hurdles on the track for the first time. Having made life more difficult for himself at several points through the race, Presley dragged his back end through the penultimate flight of hurdles and was haphazard over the last, but powered home gamely to land a maiden hurdle at Newbury last week. 

His shape at the first hurdle might have had you thinking it’s a shame this isn’t a novice chase; however, as he develops and gets his act together over hurdles, the team’s patience should pay dividends again with this one, as Dan alluded to in the post-race interview. Owners Neil and Alfie Smith have some serious talent in these colours with the Skeltons, most notably Kabral Du Mathan and Sinnatra. Funnily enough, that pair have put in devastating performances over the past month in a beginners' chase and novices' limited handicap chase, respectively. The latter was shown live on Sky Sports Racing - watch the replay here.

BOLD STEP 

Trainer: N J Henderson | Jockey: N de Boinville

2 November, Plumpton - Cappagh Browne Utilities Ltd Maiden Hurdle ( 2m4½f)

It is not too often you see a Royal runner in the jumping ranks these days, let alone a raw six-year-old showcasing enough natural ability to score a maiden hurdle at Plumpton on a Monday. That is exactly what Bold Step did for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville earlier this month, with his jumping in the straight holding up very well and carrying him to the line in good style. 

As discussed in the winning interview, Henderson trained Steal A March and Kincardine - both bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II and out of the same dam - who shared success at distances between 2m½f and 3m½f between them, and the trainer seemed to think he has a stayer on his hands with Bold Step. 

Form worth following:

18 February, Southwell - Book Your Event At Southwell Racecourse Open NH Flat Race

There was a bumper run at Southwell – live on Sky Sports Racing – back in February on what looked like a standard midweek card. However, the form of that race is working out particularly well, with each of the first three home all hitting the target over obstacles within the past ten days.

First in the bumper was MIDNIGHT JUKEBOX, who looked smart returning to Southwell to score on his hurdling debut for Jonathan Burke and Fergal O’Brien. Last week, Smokehouse – who was three quarters of a length behind him in February - overcame inexperience to land a 2m1½f maiden hurdle at Fontwell under Gavin Sheehan for Jamie Snowden. Rounding up the trio, Sea Tempest impressed Stan Sheppard and Tom Lacey with a comfortable hurdling debut win at Uttoxeter last weekend. 

On that basis, the three are all worth considering for your ATR Tracker, but I thought the way in which Midnight Jukebox quickened into the last, gathered his feet and found another gear up to the line was especially noteworthy.