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Though she’d done most of her racing in France over significantly shorter, Bubble Gum was sent off favourite on her first start for Paddy Twomey for the 1½m listed contest at Cork on Sunday afternoon.
She set the standard on what she'd achieved for Fabrice Chappet in France and, having been the subject of strong support on her return from six months off, made the perfect start for new connections, the step up in trip no problem with the emphasis on speed.
Bubble Gum travelled powerfully in mid-division, made smooth headway two furlongs out, before quickening to lead in the final furlong, winning readily. She's just the type her yard excel with and deserves another chance back in Group company.
Black Heather had been the ten-length winner of a maiden on his hurdles debut at Naas just two days earlier which might have taken the edge off him, but Harry Kelly’s six-year-old nonetheless shaped well on his Flat debut at Bellewstown.
Following a slow start, Black Heather travelled best under a patient ride, made rapid progress with half a mile to run, led two furlongs out and was headed only close home to be beaten in a finish of necks behind Mick Collins and Luker’s Tipple.
The winner of a bumper at Ballinrobe last summer, Black Heather is well up to winning a maiden for older horses on the Flat.
Kopeck de Mee badly failed to meet lofty expectations when well down the field in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival having been sent off the 5/2 favourite, but he gave a much better account of himself when only narrowly denied at Aintree.
Kopeck de Mee failed by a neck to reel in the front-running Wellington Arch in a race that wasn't run at a strong gallop, but it may have been a different story had he made his move sooner so strongly did he finish.
He jumped the last level with the eventual third but had motored four lengths clear of that rival by the line and probably would have got past the winner in another 20 yards or so. That effort gave an indication why he is seemingly held in high regard by his powerful connections and he now looks one to follow.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Thursday
LIFETIME AMBITION
Third, Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase, Aintree, Thursday 3 April
Something of a familiar tale from last year with the reigning champion missing out and very few asked to back up from Cheltenham.
The winner reversed Haydock form with the better fancied My Drogo but it was Irish-raider Lifetime Ambition who very much caught the eye under an over confident ride.
He looked tailor-made for this being a formerly very smart chaser who had taken well to the track on his previous visits and arrived having won a couple of points since shaping best when second to Its On The Line at Punchestown, and left the impression he really ought to have won, tanking through the race but seemingly not asked for his effort - by a rider who excelled when winning aboard Wonderwall at Cheltenham - until it was too late.
Lifetime Ambition finished with running left and would be of plenty of interest if turning up Punchestown, especially if faced with conditions similar to what they were here.
Al Sayah made good progress over hurdles last May, winning a mares’ novice handicap at Fontwell and mares’ handicap at Hereford (by 9 lengths from Triple Nickle), before completing a hat-trick of wins with a success on the Flat at Bath the following month.
That win came over 17f, so it was no great surprise to see her stepped up in trip to 2m5f for her return to hurdling after six months off the track at Exeter on Wednesday.
Sent off at 9/4, she shaped well when a length second to the front-running Koukeo having been held up off the pace, and finished well clear of the rest. She looks the type who will go on improving and has the option of going back to racing against her own sex next time.
War Hawk had caught the eye previously and was well supported to open his account in this handicap, overcoming a slow start to score with plenty in hand.
He made steady headway out wide on the home turn and was in a good position on the outside in the straight, taking a while to hit top gear but once he did he readily drew clear.
War Hawk confirmed himself a very well handicapped horse and, with the prospect of even more to come, he's one to keep on the right side moving forward given his unexposed profile, particularly at middle distances.
Jumping Jupiter was well backed on his return from five months off and shaped encouragingly, doing some eye-catching work late on in this conditional jockeys’ event and is likely to be back to his last winning mark next time.
Ridden in touch, he was outpaced three out but kept on again on the run-in for fourth behind Wild Nephin. Still in his first season with Mark Walford, Jumping Jupiter opened his account at Hexham last May before a couple of lesser efforts in the autumn.
Jumping Jupiter has been kept away from testing ground for the most part, which no doubt explains his break over the winter, while he’s a chasing type on looks should connections decide to go down that route.
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