Eyecatchers

CLARETS CAN PROVE TO BE VINTAGE ALL-WEATHER WINNER SOON

MR HOPE STREET

Stratford, 29 October

Mr Hope Street was no match for the well-handicapped Gatineau Park here, but shaped respectably in third, over a trip that is not quite his optimum. I think this was just a case of getting a run into him and I will be surprised if Dan Skelton can’t get him to win a pot this season.

He has never been at his best fresh either and overall, this third-place finish can be looked at favourably, especially if accepting the winner is well ahead of his mark. Last season we saw Mr Hope Street struggle at times before stepping up to three miles at Aintree and winning the handicap chase on Grand National Day.

That might well be the plan again this year but even if it isn’t I expect Mr Hope Street to struggle over the intermediate trip. When he eventually does step up in trip, he could enhance his already good record over three miles or further, having won two of his three previous attempts.

SIENA STORM

Newmarket, 30 October

While I realise that Siena Storm was an impressive winner of this Listed contest, I believe she can progress to better things next season and therefore merits inclusion. This was a clear standout from her, but she finally settled in the first-time hood and reaped the benefits in the closing stages.

Dropping back to six furlongs for the first time, the strong pace probably helped her in that regard, but she was never out of her comfort zone. It was hard not to notice her from halfway as she cruised through and when asked to quicken inside the penultimate furlong, the response was emphatic.

I think sprinting will have to be considered for her next season given how she travelled through this race, even though she has already won over a mile. Her final furlong provides sectional support to the visual impression she created. I think she is a Group-class winner in waiting over this trip.

VINTAGE CLARETS

Newcastle, 30 October

Vintage Clarets went close here, and I will be shocked if he doesn’t manage to win on the all-weather this winter. He is well handicapped on his old form, having run off 77 here, and even a subsequent rise for this second will see him feasibly treated.

I feel that those drawn high had a slight advantage here, even if the third home was also drawn low. Four of the first six came from stalls 10 to 13, so both Vintage Clarets and Michaela’s Boy deserve a potential upgrade, but I have gone for the former in this column.

His overall record here is another positive with a view to future assignments. His form figures now read 122 from three starts over this course and distance, and he would be hard to ignore if he returns here soon.

LIGHTING THUNDER

Newmarket, 31 October

This was quite a strange race at headquarters on Saturday. The finish was dominated by those drawn middle to high who raced in the main group up the centre initially. A small group of five on the far side, led by Man Of Vision went very hard early, and paid the price in the closing stages.

While Man Of Vision deserves to be marked up more than any of them, I thought Lighting Thunder shaped particularly well in finishing fourth. He only lost a couple of places near the finish as he found the final furlong too much after his early exertions.

It was a fair effort though and considering it was just his first run in a handicap, I think there is plenty of scope in his mark ahead of next season. I’ll be shocked if he isn’t much better than 89 in time, with his Newbury novice form also backing up that theory.

MARTATOR

Ascot, 31 October

Even allowing for his excellent record at Ascot, this was a fine return to action from Martator. Regular readers might remember that he appeared in this column last season, before springing a seemingly huge shock at Cheltenham in the Grand Annual.

While I am not saying he can repeat that (although not ruling it out either), this effort was hugely promising. He was able to hold a prominent position, something he has often struggled with over this trip. While he was outpaced by the winner, who could be much better than his current mark and another horse to follow, Martator was coming back again in the closing stages.

His current mark would not be beyond him on some of his old form and given that the stable are perennially slow starters, he is entitled to improve. I will be surprised if there isn’t another nice handicap in him this season, especially when they do start to fire.

LIEBER NICC

Down Royal, 31 October

Lieber Nicc was returning from a lengthy absence here, coincidentally having been off the track since winning this same race a year ago. While he couldn’t repeat the victory twelve months on, I thought it was a very promising return.

Considering he was always up with the pace when he won this last year, it was perhaps a little surprising that he was held up towards the rear here. I took from those tactics that perhaps this was about getting a clear round into him and working his way back to fitness rather than being fully ready to go.

It was an eye-catching effort too, particularly how he stayed on in the closing stages to finish never nearer than at the line. After just nine hurdles starts, I’d be surprised if there isn’t more to come from him.