Attaglance is ready to join novice chase circuit as Cape Tribulation aims to mix it

Following his dual success in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle at the National Hunt festival, and then a Listed handicap at the Grand National meeting, Attaglance will be one of the more exciting novice chase prospects in the North.

“Attaglance schooled over fences for the first time the other day and I was quite happy with him,” said Norton-based Jefferson.

“The plan at the moment is to start him off in a novice chase at Carlisle’s first meeting (October 12). Obviously that’s dependant on things going well between now and then and the ground being right, but I’m happy with him at the moment.”

Jefferson’s other Cheltenham and Aintree hero was Cape Tribulation, who followed up his Pertemps Final win with another lucrative victory on Merseyside.

He has since finished down the field on the level at York and in the French Champion Hurdle and he could mix it under both codes in the coming months.

“Cape Tribulation is fine and he might go for a staying race at York in a couple of weeks. After that he’ll probably go for the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on Charlie Hall day,” said the handler.

“We’ll see how he gets on there, but he might revert back to fences.”

Another Yorkshire trainer with lofty ambitions is Mark Johnston, who is looking forward to a tilt at the Racing Post Trophy with Steeler following his Royal Lodge Stakes triumph on Saturday. The son of Raven’s Pass appeared to relish the step up to a mile when recording his third win from five starts at Newmarket and Johnston is now ready to step his youngster up to Group One level at Doncaster on October 27 – this is the race that Derby hero Canelot won 12 months ago,

The Middleham maestro also believes his charge will be an even better horse with another winter under his belt. “He’s quite an immature horse and he’s going to get better with age. He’s very laid back in his races though and just lobs along and Kieren has a lot of faith in him,” he said.

“I thought he travelled well and it was looking like he was going to be drawn into a battle. I couldn’t say I was confident he was going to win until maybe the last 100 yards or so, when he seemed to find another gear again. The plan is the Racing Post Trophy.”

Next year’s 1000 Guineas could be the ultimate target for Rosdhu Queen, who followed up her Lowther Stakes win at York’s Ebor festival with a plucky success in the Jaguar Cars Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket.

The hardy filly, trained by Yorkshire-born William Haggas, is now unbeaten in four starts. “Whether or not she’s a Guineas filly I don’t know, but why not? She’s a good, tough, genuine filly,” he said.

Bronze Angel was the last horse to make the cut for the Betfred Cambridgeshire and he left it just as late in the event itself as he collected a welcome valuable prize for Marcus Tregoning and in-form jockey William Buick in the final stride of the 33-runner cavalry charge over nine furlongs.

“To say we’d laid him out for it wouldn’t be completely true, but the horse had to have a break and this looked a good chance for him,” said Tregoning, who also saddled Boom and Bust who finished third.

As for Buick, he conceded that he had some lucky breaks in the race, but that Bronze Angel– still just three – is a horse of immense promise.

“I thought he had a very good chance but there’s so many runners that you can make a case for. I was lucky the horse took me far enough. He’s won really well. I’m sure he’s got a big future.”

That said, the headline act at Newmarket was a horse who was not even racing – the incomparable Frankel, who enjoyed his last public workout ahead of the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot on October 20.

Given that this is likely to be Frankel’s last contest – he is 
unbeaten in 13 starts – before retiring to stud, connections decided to recreate race conditions by parading him in the paddock, while jockey Tom Queally was wearing owner Khalid Abdullah’s silks.

The Sir Henry Cecil-trained Frankel then galloped effortlessly over one mile alongside stable companions Specific Gravity and his half-brother Bullet Train.

Frankel’s popularity has reached such heights there were barely any vantage points left in the paddock before the exercise.

Queally said: “He felt fine, that’s exactly what we were looking for as there’s still a bit (of time) to go.

“He had a nice blow – that was exactly what we wanted.”

Abdullah’s racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe said: “It’s amazing how many people came to see him. He’s done something today to keep him up to speed and he’s achieved it with the minimum of fuss.

“It was slightly less than a race as they didn’t go a furious gallop but they still went a decent pace and it was a bit more of a workout. It was kind of Newmarket to allow us to come and Frankel has enjoyed himself.”

Cecil has been struggling with ill health in recent months and has been a rare visitor to racecourses this season, but he said: “I am doing fine but I am getting tired and I need a good holiday.”

Waterlogging has claimed today’s Flat card at Hamilton while Newton Abbot’s National Hunt fixture must pass an early morning inspection.

Meanwhile, tomorrow’s meeting at Ayr is subject to a 12pm inspection today. The ground is heavy but there is also standing water on the track. Further showers are forecast.