Will Ffos Las Provide Grand National clues?
Friday afternoon sees the official opening of Ffos Las, the new racecourse in Wales, and although this is the official opening there has already been some racing at the track and the response to new course has been very positive.
The Champion Jockey and Champion Trainer have both gone on record praising the new course and their comments give weight to the belief that Ffos Las could become an important venue for National Hunt racing in the years to come.
Tony McCoy had this to say after the last meeting:
“It’s a lovely track, and obviously the ground is probably a little bit quicker than they would have liked, but I’m sure they’ll fix that,”
“It’s very similar to places like Newbury in lots of ways – there are no faults with the track.”
Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls had this to say about Ffos Las:
“It is a fantastic track,” he said after a visit west from his Ditcheat stables. “A lot of thought, time and effort has gone into it.
“We’d have no hesitation in sending Master Minded, Kauto Star or Denman round there.”
“They have done a fantastic job with the whole thing “
With comparisons in place to Newbury and to other top class jump venues, Grand National Guide readers might be advised to keep an eye on the horses taking part in the better class chases at the track as its possible this venue could become an excellent prep venue for the Grand National.
With its close proximity for horses coming over from Ireland, the course should always get its fair share of Irish visitors and competitive racing looks assured.
The course has been given eight fixtures this year. In 2010, they will retain these and have another eight, including the Saturday after the Cheltenham Festival.
Tomorrow’s racing includes the richest race to be staged at Ffos Las to date — the £50,000 freebets.co.uk Handicap Chase, run over an extended three miles and one furlong and the rest of the card looks very competitive for a NH card in August.
Some potential Grand National “dark horse” are declared for the classy handicap chase with the likes of Snoopy Loopy, Hoo Loo Baloo, Church Island, Boychuck and recent Summer National winner Fire And Rain all set to do battle.
If you have any thoughts on this race or if you see the race and think any of the runners could end up at Aintree give us your thoughts on this page. Also, if you’ve been to Ffos Las (or seen it on TV!) what do you think of the track and could it become one of the premier jumping venues in the UK?
This post has 14 comments
#1
August 27th, 2009 17:16
Its early days yet for Ffos Las, but I’am encouraged by Mc Coy commits and by stayers refering it to Newbury in nature and by the report of the fences not being too easy to jump. Newbury and the Grand National course itself are extra wide galloping with stiff fences and that is probably why the Hennessy works out so well. If Ffos Las is similar that can only be good.
#2
August 27th, 2009 21:41
Only just noticed this thread…was just saying that Church Island is down to run tomorrow. Must make a point of getting to see the race somehow.
#3
August 27th, 2009 22:07
Maureen the race is ran at twenty five past four. If you manage to see the race could you please let me know what you think as I would be working when its runs. My analysis would probably follow when I read the reports.
#4
August 27th, 2009 22:17
I’ll try to get to a bookies! It’s not on ATR is it? They may show it on The Morning Line perhaps. I must admit, I only heard about the race a couple of hours ago. This sounds like a very interesting racecourse! Perhaps may fill the void left by Haydock Park with it’s silly fences now.
#5
August 27th, 2009 22:23
Maureen yes it will be on At The Races (sky channel 415) good luck with your bet tomorrow.
#6
August 28th, 2009 12:27
This looks a tricky race.
I’ve never been convinced by Hoo La Baloo at this sort of distance and I think I’d be prepared to take on Boychuk (not sure his last win was that competitive) and Nostringsattached (possibly too high in the handicap now?)
I’d imagine that Snoopy Loopy would still have too much on his plate after last season’s successes and I can’t really see why Backstage is the price he is.
No doubt Church Island will have his supporters (from these pages?) but I’m not a big fan and the trainer’s record in this country in the last five years is abysmal (1 win in 61 runs). I would imagine that Out The Black might need the run but it’s very interesting to see that there has been money for the former decent hurdler Hold Em. He warrants a second look.
I was impressed with Fire and Rain in the Summer National and I’d fancy him to follow up, although his stable has been a bit quiet which tempers things and some of the outsiders are interesting particularly Coq Hardi. Peter Bowen has made no secret of his keenness to win this race and I just wonder if this horse is still to show his best in handicap company. Ontheotherhand and Justpourit would be much more interesting if they could run nearer their correct weight but I wouldn’t be surprised by decent runs, especially from the latter who has the first time visor.
#7
August 28th, 2009 13:12
Boychuk gets my vote
Should be an interesting race
#8
August 28th, 2009 13:59
Admin, I.am a Church Island fan, but respect to Snoopy Loopy (top weight) and Fire and Rain a likely future grand national star. Maureen, I managed to set a recording of the race. Will study this race to see if any grand national clues are there.
#9
August 28th, 2009 16:09
Backstage,a 7-y-o was an easy winner
Clearly the horse has some talent (14 chase & point-to-point starts, 7 wins and 4 placed runs) and jockey rode him with supreme confidence
Got the trip really well and is by Passing Sale (Mon Mome’s sire)
Trainer has won the National before
However I think that the horse lacks the big race experience of most National winners (no 3m+ Class 1 or key race experience)
And the handicapper will clobber him in all likelihood
Not for me for 2010, but certainly worth keeping an eye on for future races
Church Island should be dropped a pound or two – still not convinced that he can win at the GN trip from the front – maybe they’ll go for Irish GN again
#10
August 28th, 2009 19:44
Managed to see the second half of the race, so saved myself the bet on the Emma Lavelle horse [put the money on Nanton for the Cambridgeshire/Cesarewitch instead! Will see if it's still on ATR replay. How many times am I going to miss a Gordon Elliott winner [what does he feed them on?]. Remember that Siver Birch was running a mighty race in this years National till he fell. Wonder if the blinkers have stopped working with Church Island as well as the weight. As for this race today; horse wins from the bottom of the handicap with other horses out of the handicap and a few with far too much weight. I’ll never learn!
#11
August 29th, 2009 17:29
Managed to watch the recording and my assessment of the course is that it’s fair. Like I said before a lot like Newbury, in my opinion of the 4.25 the was no hard luck stories to see and although only a class 2 race it seemed very reasonable.
Church Island didn’t really get into the race, I heard he made some headway but it came to nothing as he finished last. It’s early days yet but I want to see something more,(perhaps we were expecting too much).
Snoopy Loopy had just too much weight and Fire and Rain seemed to run out of stamina but he was up there from the off until approaching 4 out. In time he could strengthen and also might be best if they could hold him up or just keep him off the leaders. To be honest he’s only six and time is on his side.
Backstage the winner won by 10 lengths he’s seven, (eight when the national comes around), I would like him to run in the Hennessy on a Official Rating of 137 he already in my stats for winning OR (157-136), but I would like it if by feb he was at 140 minimum. Says in Racing Post that he needed a trip off a fast gallop and got it. Ran well at Aintree in the past and the trainer (Gordon Elliott) seems keen on the Grand National. Next trip might be the Kerry National.
Backstage jockey was Tom Scudsmore and I just being silly here but Michael Scudamore won on Oxo so maybe skipping a generation his grandson could win on Backstage.
I think that given time future grand national winners might run on here. If one hasn’t ran on here already.
#12
September 1st, 2009 00:11
Backstage,a 7-y-o was an easy winner
Clearly the horse has some talent (14 chase & point-to-point starts, 7 wins and 4 placed runs) and jockey rode him with supreme confidence
Got the trip really well and is by Passing Sale (Mon Mome’s sire)
Trainer has won the National before
However I think that the horse lacks the big race experience of most National winners (no 3m+ Class 1 or key race experience)
And the handicapper will clobber him in all likelihood
Not for me for 2010, but certainly worth keeping an eye on for future races
Church Island should be dropped a pound or two – still not convinced that he can win at the GN trip from the front – maybe they’ll go for Irish GN again;. All the best!!
#13
September 22nd, 2009 09:37
Read a comment on Channel 4 teletext last night that his (Backstage) trainer is going to campaign him over hurdles exclusively now to protect his mark for a tilt at the National this year.
Currently has a mark of 148, having gone up 11lb for this Ffos Las win, so assuming that doesn’t change, should have a nice weight. BUt as Activa says, too inexperienced for me this year.
#14
September 22nd, 2009 13:02
Yes, there was something on the SL site but it’s gone now!
He was 8th in the Foxhunters so he must have coped with the fences ok I guess. 148 seems high enough for what he has achieved in his career – he’s got no real Class 1 or graded form to speak of. 148 this year would have him If carrying 2lbs less than State Of Play, the same as Mon Mome and 1b more than Butlers Cabin. Is he as good as those horses? Not on what we have seen so far.