Ramses De Teillee
Ramses De Teillee ran well to finish fifth in the Badger Ales Trophy on ground that was probably faster than ideal for him.
He settled into a nice racing rhythm for David Noonan, along the inside and in mid-division. He made a mistake at the last fence in the back straight just as they pace was increasing, and he lost his place a little as a result. The front two, Present Man and Sumkindofking, came away from the field after the third last, but Ramses De Teillee kept on all the way to the line to retain fifth place, just nutted by Aunty Ann for fourth.
It was a fine run by David Pipe's horse on his seasonal debut. He did miss engagements at Aintree and Ascot earlier in the season because the ground was deemed to be too fast for him, so you have to assume that he was fit and ready to go, but it was still his first run since April. Also, the ground at Wincanton on Saturday can't have been much softer than it was at Aintree in late October or at Ascot the previous Saturday, so he probably just got away with it. He should be better though when the rains arrive and he can get to race on deep winter ground.
He ran four big races last winter on heavy ground, winning twice, both times at Chepstow, and finishing second twice, to Elegant Escape at Exeter on the last occasion, who was rated 12lb superior at the time. He is rated 141, but he is only six and his Badger Ales run was just his seventh over fences. He has lots of scope for progression as a staying chaser.
He stays three miles well. It is difficult to know if he would stay the three miles and five furlongs of the Welsh National at Chepstow after Christmas, but it is surely worth having a go at that contest now, given his affinity with Chepstow. He is two for two over fences at the Welsh track, over three miles on heavy ground. He will be of interest wherever he goes next, on soft or heavy ground. He is entered in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle this Saturday, and he will be of interest in that if the ground comes up soft.
Wincanton, 10th November 2018
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