Classy Uttoxeter winner Baron Noir looks an exciting young prospect
December 9
We had high hopes of celebrating a double for Noel Fehily’s syndicates at Uttoxeter today, and, while Ski Lodge was a game runner-up on his chasing debut, Baron Noir, already a dual bumper winner, confirmed that he was an exciting prospect when outclassing the opposition to win his maiden hurdle at the second attempt.
Tom Bellamy never had a moment’s anxiety on Punchestown winner Baron Noir (1-3), who cruised around in behind the leaders until producing a challenge at the second last, asserting his superiority at the final flight and, under hands and heels riding, eventually winning cosily by three parts of a length.
Fehily, who does exceptionally well with his syndicated horses, said:”We like Baron Noir a lot, and fingers crossed he could be one for the big meetings come the spring. He’ll be even more effective on better ground and in a race where they go a stronger gallop,
“Alan (King) told me that he cannot ever recall having a horse with more scope than Baron Noir, and, having only just been run out of it after the last on his jumping debut at Warwick, he has got the job done in style here.”
Like Akan and Noel, Bellamy was hugely impressed with Baron Noir. He said:”He is a lovely horse, and he will look even better when he races on less testing ground.
“He was a bit gassy in the first half of the race, but when they stepped up the tempo he was really good, and from the second last he was only doing what he had to do and won with something in hand.”
Ski Lodge, who is also a useful hurdler, started favourite to open his chasing account in the same colours half an hour later, but a couple of untidy jumps – at the sixth fence and again three out – gave the advantage to Itseemslikeit, who pulled away from the second last to win by seven lengths.
However, Ski Lodge travelled so well through the race and did little wrong. He will have learned plenty from this race and remains one of the young horses that all of us at Barbury are looking forward to this winter.
