WELCOME to our Eyecatchers column! Every week, form expert James Flaherty pinpoints horses primed to strike in the next few weeks, if not days. Remember, you can add James's weekly updates to your ATR Tracker.
MORE TO COME FROM MULLINS’S BEAUVALLON
BEAUVALLON
Listowel, 24 September
The Lartigue Hurdle was the feature race at Listowel on Thursday and Game Point made virtually all of the running. In contrast, Beauvallon came from the rear of the field to finish a never nearer fourth and he is the one I want to take out of the race.
He was fifth in the Galway Hurdle last time on his handicap debut but shaped even better here despite being beaten a similar distance. Willie Mullins’s gelding was never travelling in the early stages, and Paul Townend was busy through the first half of the race as his jumping didn’t help either.
Beauvallon was in a poor position turning for home as a result, but his finishing effort was quite taking. I do think he might need cheekpieces just to help him travel better, while a step up in trip might also be required to bring about further improvement.
MEZZO FORTE
Newmarket, 24 September
Mezzo Forte was unable to build on his York maiden win earlier this month in the Group 3 contest on Thursday. However, I thought he shaped much better than the bare result and is one to keep onside going into next season.
Pretty much everything that could go wrong did go wrong for him here. He was slowly away and was quite keen early having been allowed to stride on at York previously. He then found himself behind a wall of horses as the race developed and had to wait for daylight to make his challenge.
When he eventually got in the clear it was far too late and even though he stayed on to finish third, he never looked like getting involved. I think he is better than this and he will almost certainly improve when he gets a stiffer stamina test. He should be capable of winning at Group level next season.
BRAVEMANS CALL
Listowel, 24 September
I feel like this was a decent bumper and the first three home could all be worth following. Berkstar obliged for Willie Mullins, who laid down an early season marker to all (as if they needed it) at the Harvest Festival. He was made to work by Eoin McCarthy’s Bravemans Call though.
The runner-up eventually got within half a length and even if the winner was idling, I thought it was a very promising effort. The pair were six and a half lengths clear of the third and the rest came home at long intervals.
It was one of several near misses for the local trainer during the week, but I’m sure he will be quite happy with this performance. Bravemans Call looks capable of winning a similar contest next time and is a young horse to keep onside this season.
DWINDLING FUNDS
Newmarket, 26 September
Dwindling Funds sums up my recent betting exploits, but I thought he shaped much better than the bare result in the Cambridgeshire on Saturday. His best form has come over a mile, and he found the final furlong or so tough in this company, as he faded back through the field.
Plenty of those that finished ahead of him came from well off the pace, with a true pace in this contest. While he was beaten five and a half lengths in the end, I thought it was a very creditable effort, especially considering he was 3lb out of the handicap.
Dwindling Funds progressed rapidly last year, winning his first handicap off a lowly 51 at Ayr. While he hasn’t quite matched that level of improvement this year, he did win three times at the end of last season and perhaps he might win in the final weeks of the season again this year.
STATE Of WYOMING
Curragh, 26 September
State of Wyoming took a significant step forward from his debut effort in March in this contest. While he didn’t appear to be making much progress early in the straight, his final furlong certainly marks him down as a potential improver.
He didn’t get the toughest of rides, particularly early in the contest. He wasn’t asked to close from his position in mid-division rounding the home turn as the eventual fourth Kenough went past him. When Billy Lee eventually got him rolling inside the penultimate furlong he did make late headway.
State of Wyoming is probably a handicap project next season, but he could be capable of winning an ordinary maiden if connections want to. I think there is certainly more to come from him.
DARK CLOUD RISING
Ripon, 26 September
Dark Cloud Rising set a strong pace in this sprint handicap and probably paid the price for that late on as he faded to finish fifth. He was beaten nearly four lengths in the end, but he shaped better than that considering he raced less efficiently than the four that finished ahead of him.
He still travelled well on the front end as the field went through halfway and led the field inside the penultimate furlong. The writing was on the wall for him approaching the furlong pole though, as the pack had closed and were throwing down their challenge.
His finishing effort may have been a little disappointing, but the early sectionals excuse it to some extent. He needs a little help from the handicapper, but he should get it after this as he edges back down towards his highest previous winning mark of 89.
