/ David Cleary / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment 
David's selected the most promising horses from a crowded field
"Viva Colonia is well worth another chance, particularly at two miles."
David Cleary reflects on another week of summer jump racing and highlights the winners to watch, the losers to avoid and the contenders that could have more to offer in future...
It was another busy week on the jumping front, though competitive races which look worth following were decidedly thin on the ground. As earlier in the month, the handicap hurdles were stronger by and large than other categories, and certainly include the most talked about race of the week, the two-mile event at Wetherby won by Royal Max.
It was a much improved effort by the winner on his second start back from a break, but he was greatly helped by the soft lead he managed to establish after starting several lengths ahead of his rivals. The well-supported Viva Colonia was left with far too much to do and the effort of trying to close such a large gap cost him second. He is well worth another chance, particularly at two miles. Apartman couldn't build on a promising effort at Aintree the time before but this may have come a bit soon, given his profile, and he's dropping a lot in the weights, so shouldn't be written off just yet.
The handicap hurdle at Kelso on Sunday is another to be positive about, with the winner What A Steel, leading home two other unexposed sorts in Cool Baranca and Freddie Brown. What A Steel showed a good attitude and ought to follow up under a penalty before he's reassessed. Cool Baranca travelled strongly but was found out by the stiff finish, compounded by a strong wind - she can win a similar event when speed is more at a premium. Freddie Brown, by contrast, is a chaser in the making, likely to be at his best over further, and he couldn't quicken after jumping clumsily at times.
Another winner to note from Kelso is Badger Foot, who landed the handicap chase in ready fashion on his first start for Lucinda Russell. He's been in good form in points and is clearly a different proposition since leaving Jonjo O'Neill.
Much earlier in the week, at Newton Abbot, Kylenoe Fairy defied a 6-lb rise for her previous course win. Her style of racing - held up and produced late - means the handicapper doesn't find it easy to get her measure when she's in top form; the way she travelled here before picking up well suggests she'll have a solid chance of completing a hat-trick. Kylenoe Fairy wasn't the only one to boost the form of her previous race during the week, which suggests runner-up Tri Nations should be given another chance. He's been set too much to do in two defeats since (never-nearer fifth behind Kylenoe Fairy this time) but can take advantage of a still favourable mark if all falls his way.
Two others to note from the Newton Abbot card are the Grant Cann-trained pair How's My Friend and She's On The Case. How's My Friend caught the eye in the steadily-run novice hurdle, losing his place before keeping on well without being given a hard time; he's one to keep in mind. She's On The Case was well backed for the handicap chase on just her second start over fences but two miles five furlongs is on the short side, particularly on a sharp track, and lack of fluency as the pace quickened left her poorly placed. The best of her has definitely yet to be seen. The winner of that race, Life of A Luso shows a likeable attitude and may well keep ahead of the handicapper, particularly as he'll be at least as effective back at three miles.
Defeat for short-priced favourite Turtlethomas in the three-mile novice hurdle at Worcester, won by the thorough stayer Ely Brown, was a rare reverse for the Lawney Hill yard. However, Turtlethomas was travelling strongly when a blunder four out seemed to unsettle him and he's well worth another chance.
The week's list of negatives could be summed up as just about anything that won at the two Towcester fixtures. However, three will do for now: Leopard Hills (unimpressive in a weak seller), Speedy Directa (fell in, with a race run ideally and the favourites running badly) and Timoca (seemed to show more resolution in cheekpieces but won a weak race for mares and wouldn't be sure to react so well to headgear another time).
The Flat-bred Rio Gael made a fairly unconvincing chasing debut at Fakenham and will need to be well placed to follow up, handicaps not a good option given his hurdling mark. Franklino confirmed his status as a serial underachiever in defeat at Newton Abbot, while Gem Mill surely won't be subject of market support again after a poor display at Sedgefield.
The Flat season is grabbing the headlines but there are still plenty of promising bets to be had over jumps, as David Cleary explains....
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