Ross Millar: weekend reflections plus two bets for Monday

What a hugely enjoyable weekend of racing we had, with good quality action coming from Warwick and Kempton on Saturday and Punchestown in Ireland on Sunday.

The training accolade for the weekend must surely go to Sam Thomas, as his Iwilldoit galloped resolutely to the line to win the Wigley Group Classic Chase at Warwick. To have him in such good form after 383 days away from the track was a tremendous piece of training and confirms him as an exceptionally capable operator.

The Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle, also run at Warwick, saw a three-way battle at the finish go the way of the Dan Skelton-trained Grey Dawning. I think time will prove this was a seriously good race and to my eye neither the runner-up, Ginny’s Destiny, nor the third placed, Knowsley Road, lost little in defeat. All three look the type to do better yet when facing a fence.

At Kempton the Coral Lanzarote Hurdle was won by West Balboa, who prevailed under a determined drive from Bridget Andrews, in a nip and tuck finish from Red Risk, ridden by 7lb claimer Freddie Gingell, who did his burgeoning reputation no harm at all.

However, the standout performance came from Pic D’Orhy who didn’t look to come out of third gear as he sauntered to victory in the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase. He looks a far more compliant ride this season and those kamikaze leaps, which compromised his novice chase season, seem to be well forgotten.

I held a speculative ante-post ticket for him in the King George and I must confess this was a performance that left me wondering what might have been. I’m convinced he’s a Grade One winner in waiting.

On Sunday, the Moscow Flyer Hurdle was won in fine style by Impaire Et Passe, it would have been a surprise if he was beaten given his odds of 1-3 but nevertheless, he impressed with a slick and composed round of hurdling, most notably when getting in tight to the last. I will be following him wherever he lines up next, though of course where that might be is the million-dollar question….

I have found two selections at Hereford for Monday. Best of luck.

Dan Skelton has his string in fine form, with a four-timer on Saturday, including big prizes at Kempton and Warwick.

Missed Tee can help him keep that momentum into this week. Simply put, he looks supremely well handicapped. He shed his maiden tag at the second time of asking when winning a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter, despite showing signs of greenness in the closing stages. After that the handicapper assessed him to a mark of 109. Crucially the second, third and fourth have all run since and find themselves on marks of 115, 112 and 115 respectively, after showing further solid form.

It’s reasonable to say that Missed Tee is on a generous mark. Soft ground shouldn’t be an issue; though if the going were to get heavy I would have some concern given he missed an intended engagement at Kelso on account of such ground.

City Chief faced a tough task on his chasing debut, when in a match against the useful Gelino Bello. I felt he acquitted himself well in the early stages before making a shuddering error at the seventh fence. It is to his testament that his confidence appeared to be undiminished, as he made up ground in stylish fashion.

However, that big physical exertion had clearly taken its toll and he was unable to stick with his sole rival as the pace quickened up the home straight. His jockey, Nico De Boinville rode him considerately once it was apparent that any chance of winning had gone. Despite the error it was a chase debut full of promise.

His two rivals both arrive here with a question to answer after pulling up on their previous starts. Coconut Splash is becoming frustrating to follow and you sense connections are unsure as to what his ideal conditions are as he continues with just a solitary win to his name.

Jet Plane was impressive on his penultimate start, at this track, but failed to build on that on his next start, a mark of 126 looks high enough on his balance of form.

City Chief ran to a decent level over hurdles and should have the beating of his two opponents.