Golden Investment – One For The Notebook

Coneygree defied the sceptics by running out an authoritative winner of the 188Bet Future Stars Chase on his return to action at Sandown this afternoon. I was one of a handful who thought the challenges of this demanding track could prove more than a test for the Gold Cup winner, but there was never really any doubt that he was going to win once it became apparent that his chief market rival Southfield Theatre was not having a going day.

In conceding 6lb and beating Seventh Sky, who is rated 25lb inferior, by 25 lengths Coneygree technically speaking outran his mark, with the 154-rated Southfield Theatre a further 19 lengths back in third.

Coneygree’s next assignment will be the Hennessy Gold Cup, where his nearest rivals are Many Clouds and Menorah – both rated 5lb inferior on 167.

What promises to be a vintage renewal of the Hennessy received a further boost with the success at Aintree on Saturday of Bobs Worth, who is now rated on 151 – a full 21lb below Coneygree.

Once rated 180 at his peak, there is a strong case to be made for the 10-year-old in the light of this gutsy display. Simonsig appeared to be pulling double from the turn for home, but he had expended too much energy by taking a fierce hold from the outset and it was no surprise to see him empty so quickly.

One can never be sure how horses will react to their first run back from a break, but Nicky Henderson has to be very satisfied at seeing two of his star performers finish first and second in what was a decent contest.

Elsewhere, at a lower level, I thought Donald McCain’s bumper debutant Golden Investment plugged on gamely to finish second in the finale at Aintree. The son of Gold Well, who won a point-to-point in Ireland, is from the staying family of The Taoiseach and bred to relish a distance of ground, so this was a good effort around such a tight track over the minimum trip.

There are fun and games towards the end of the week with the three-day Open Meeting at Cheltenham. The fixture proved very profitable for subscribers to my Online Preview last year and I am again producing a two-part edition, with Part One on Thursday evening covering Friday, and Part Two on Friday covering Saturday and Sunday. Please refer to the shop for further details.

Bye for now