27 November 2009 Ex-Pointers Round-Up
by Weatherbys Chase Staff
CAPPA BLEU
photo: Tracy Roberts
Last season's Cheltenham Foxhunters hero, Cappa Bleu, heads the list of former Point-to-Pointers running under Rules this weekend. William and Angela Rucker's seven-year-old, now in the care of Evan Williams, aims to continue his meteoric rise up the chasing ranks by landing the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
The gelding was undoubtedly disappointing on his seasonal comeback at Aintree, but in hindsight the sharp 2m4f trip would have in no way played to his strengths, and the Hennessy trip and ground should be right up his street. Cappa Bleu will be partnered by Wayne Hutchinson has receieved a chance ride following Jamie Moore's withdrawal through injury. He will be joined in the race by his stablemate State Of Play, who is also owned by the Ruckers.
Elsewhere, it is a rather quiet weekend for former British Pointers scheduled to run under Rules. Its Teescomponents has been a most consistent sort of late in Points, Hunter Chases and in handicaps, and he has been declared to run in the three mile handicap chase on Newcastle's 'Fighting Fifth' card, while promising Bishops Court Maiden winner Restless Harry aims to make it third time lucky under Rules in the EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle over 2m5f at Towcester. On Sunday Magnetic Pole, a winner of three of his last four Points for Gordy Edwards, makes his debut for Richard Lee in the closing ladbrokes.com Classified Chase at Leicester.
It was a profitable week for followers of former Point-to-Pointers, mainly due to Knighton Combe's 25/1 success under top-weight at Ascot last Saturday. Formerly trained by John Dufosee, the consistent nine-year-old is now in the care of former rider Jamie Snowden, and battled well to land the spoils from Skipper's Lad, with Flaco (a Whitwell Maiden winner in 2008) and multiple Pointing winner Noakarad de Verzee third and fourth respectively.
Master Overseer's two wins in 2009 included a four-mile Mens Open at Flete Park, and with that in mind it was no surprise that he relished the soft ground and stiff uphill finish at Towcester on Sunday, landing the Weatherbys/Northampton Town FC Handicap Chase over an extended 3m by a wide margin.
Three other horses recently successful in British Points also landed the odds under Rules this week. Me Julie, a Bangor Mares Maiden winner in 2008, relished the switch to fences at Ffos Las, having been beaten four times over hurdles, scoring by six lengths in a 2m5f Mares Handicap Chase, while Ashorne Maiden winner Banjaxed Girl made it two out of two in bumpers for Nigel Twiston-Davies at Wetherby on Wednesday. At the same course, the award for luckiest winner of the week went to Passport Control. A Whittington Maiden winner for Gill Walford, the six-year-old now runs in the familiar colours of Andrea and Graham Wylie, and managed to land the 3m1f Beginners Chase in most fortuitous circumstancs. Last of the three runners and seemingly going nowhere, he was left as the only runner standing when Minella Boys fell four out, bringing down Teamgeist.
Cannington Brook, listed as one of the twelve 'Chase Stars' in the 2010 Hunter Chasers & Point-to-Pointers Annual, tried his luck in a Grade Two Novices' Chase at Newbury on Thursday, but was outclassed and eventually pulled up. He remains a chaser of some potential, however, and should be able to find a winning opportunity at a more suitable level.
