18 December 2009 Ex-Pointers Round-Up: 18/12/09
by Weatherbys Chase Staff
FIDDLER'S REEL: makes Hurdles debut
photo: Grace Beresford
Gunship, a three-time Point-to-Point winner, put in a much improved jumping performance than on his return to Rules to win a Lingfield Handicap Chase on Saturday at 6/1, with another ex-Pointer, the Tony McCoy-ridden 9/4 favourite Me Julie, managing third under top weight.
Cathy Hamilton's charge started a good week for former Point-to-Point runners, with Knighton Combe showing plenty of resolution in winning his second consecutive Rules start on Wednesday in a Newbury Handicap Chase, having previously caused a 25/1 surprise at Ascot for trainer Jamie Snowden; he could now be aimed for the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick.
Misstree Dancer won a Maiden and a Restricted on her last two Pointing starts in 2008/09, the promise of which encouraged owner Sarah Faulks to send her to Nick Mitchell for a Rules campaign; having previously managed only sixth in a bumper, she shaped like a potential winner on her second Rules start at Exeter on Thursday, when finishing second in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Exeter on Thursday at 33/1.
Another mare to have successfully graduated from Pointing to Rules is Banjaxed Girl, now a dual bumper winner for Nigel Twiston-Davies; she made her hurdling debut at Ludlow on Thursday and finished an encouraging second behind an odds-on Nicky Henderson-trained favourite. Dermatologiste, who enjoyed a luckless season between the flags in 2008/09 but nonetheless earning a Mackenzie & Harris Annual appraisal noting that she "clearly has some ability", stayed on into third in a Uttoxeter Beginners' Chase at 40/1.
Whilst the prospects of many meetings taking place this weekend seriously compromised by the weather, Point-to-Pointing could still be represented at three meetings should they go ahead. Lucciolina, a Dingley Maiden winner for Robert Waley-Cohen last season but pulled up on her sole subsequent Rules start, is entered for the Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday, where she may find the shorter trip of 2m110yards more to her liking.
With the abandonment of Newcastle, Passport Control will have to wait for another opportunity to maintain his unbeaten record, with the Whittington Maiden winner having been an undeniably lucky winner of a Novices' Chase on his Rules debut in which both opponents failed to complete.
On Sunday Fiddler's Reel, second on his Rules debut but only sixth next time, makes his hurdling debut over 2m4f at Carlisle, a card which later on will see Ripalong Lad, twice a winner under Rules since last season, contest the 3m2f Handicap Chase, whilst The Green Hat and Contendo will run in the following 2m4f Handicap Chase, with the former bidding to build on his 50/1 third last time out.
