Marten Julian’s Weekly Roundup 9 December 2024

I’m not sure that anyone outside the immediate circle of Venetia Williams’s yard could have predicted the ease with which Djelo won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Sunday.

The six-year-old was always travelling very smoothly and went effortlessly clear, with his rider taking a couple of leisurely looks back, to win by six lengths from Protektorat and Ginny’s Destiny.

Rated on 149, he was receiving 3lbs from the 166-rated runner-up, so ran to a mark in the high 160s if the form is taken literally. On a line through Ginny’s Destiny, rated 154 and receiving 3lbs, he ran to a mark in the mid 160s so I expect Djelo to be raised to something around 162 to 165 next week.

Taking a look back at his career, the son of Montmartre must have been the bet of a lifetime when he made his debut, backed from 10/1 to 11/2, for Venetia Williams from a mark of 114 in a 0-125 handicap hurdle at Exeter in November 2022. He was surprisingly beaten in his next four starts but returned to winning ways when he reappeared over fences the following autumn, winning his first three starts from marks of 128, 135 and a Grade 2 when rated on 143.

He ended last campaign with highly commendable runs in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase and Turners before running down the field at Aintree.

On his return this season he ran JPR One to three-quarters of a length in the Haldon Gold Cup, running to his mark through the 149-rated winner, before his impressive display on Sunday.

There is no doubt that on figures Djelo ran to something between 10lbs and a stone above his previous highest mark at Huntingdon and the question now is where will he next run?

Although he can be a little keen, he is bred to stay further than Sunday’s 2m 4f. His sire Montmartre was a top-class middle-distance performer who has bred loads of winners, including the talented but mercurial Labaik, while his dam’s first foal won over 3m 2f.

It would surprise me if the trainer stepped him up to three miles at this stage. She already has Royale Pagaille and L’Homme Presse in that division and Djelo has plenty of pace. The Ryanair looks the obvious target but other options are available.

Looking ahead the Christmas Festive edition of the Weekend Card on Wednesday 18th December will be packed with big race previews of the King George, the Christmas Hurdle and the Welsh National. We also have information on horses specially prepared for lower-profile meetings over the holiday period together with latest news for the Dark Horses section. Jodie Standing and Ian Carnaby also pass on their thoughts and we have news from our Irish contact, Ronan Groome, for Leopardstown and elsewhere.

My daily analysis will also be available over the Christmas season either in an email format (Daily Bulletin) or by subscribing to my Telephone & Text Service (£21 for one week).

I’ll be back next week with more thoughts.

Bye for now

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