Tom Scudamore: “Fontaine Collonges deserves to be among the favourites”
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Coral ambassador Tom Scudamore previews his weekend rides and gives his thoughts on Saturday’s feature races.
Saturday
He’s better known as a chaser, but he did what he needed to do last time on his first run for us over hurdles. He steps up in class today, but we know the level he’s at, and the more rain the better for him. He handled the quicker ground fine at Ayr, but I think the softer the ground, the better he’ll be.
He can be an inconsistent horse, and he’s another that won’t mind plenty of rain. He has the ability to win, and he seems in good form at home, but now he’s got to translate that onto the track. He did win on his reappearance last year, so he’s got a reasonable record fresh.
We actually thought he’d make up into a decent novice chaser last term, but it didn’t work out. He could be thrown in on some of his best bits of form, but as I say, consistency seems to be his issue.
I’ve never ridden her before, but she showed a decent level of form last season, and she deserves to be one of the favourites. This is her first go at this trip, but Venetia’s record in staying chases is fantastic, and it’s always good to get the leg up on one of hers.
What a battle!
Fontaine Collonges and Precious Eleanor pull miles away from the rest with the former coming out on top in the Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Now Mares' Novices' Handicap Chase for @charliedeutsch2 and @VenetiaWRacing 🏇 pic.twitter.com/gktms2Fve4
— Warwick Racecourse (@WarwickRaces) November 17, 2021
Other feature races
A Plus Tard is an exceptional racehorse, and I think this is his to lose. It’s going to be similar conditions to what he won in last year, and even if he’s not fully wound up, I can’t see any of these being good enough to challenge him.
Protektorat is probably the most likely danger, but you certainly wouldn’t rule out Frodon if the rain doesn’t come, and with the run under his belt, if anybody is going to spring a surprise, it’s going to be him.
I’ve never seen a novice do what Constitution Hill did last season. I thought Vautour was the most impressive Supreme winner I’d ever seen up until that point, but what he did to that field, and the distance between him and Jonbon was just astonishing.
It’s a very tough division he’s going in to, but on his form last season, I don’t think there’s a hurdler this side of the Irish Sea that can beat him.
Sunday
He ran well for a long way on his chase debut here last time, and only weakened out of it between the last two. He comes down in trip today, and some of his best form has come on better ground, so conditions should be fine for him, and I think he’ll make up into a nice chaser. This does look a strong handicap for the grade though, and I think we’ll see plenty of winners come out of it.
I thought he ran really well at Carlisle in the graduation chase last time, much better than his finishing position would suggest. We’ll keep our eye on the forecast with him though, as he won’t run if we don’t get some more rain. I do like him, I think he’s a promising horse for the future.
Last season was a write-off for him, but the season before that he had some very good form. He’s won twice round Exeter before, so we know he likes the track, and he’s potentially running off a very good mark if you look at some of the horses he beat as a novice, so he’s definitely very interesting.
Tom
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