Tag Archive for: Authorised Speed

Speed on show as Authorised takes Mersey test

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New tactics will be employed by jockey Jamie Moore as Authorised Speed bids to break his Grade One duck in the Turners Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.

The six-year-old has won three of his his four starts over hurdles since being the first British-trained horse home in last season’s Cheltenham Champion Bumper.

The only blip in this sphere was defeat in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown, a reverse subsequently glossed over when scoring with ease in calmer waters at the same track.

Gary Moore’s Horsham yard is in prime form and the trainer is hoping for a big run against 14 opponents.

He said: “He seems in good heart at home. Any more rain would be appreciated and hopefully he goes there and gives a good account of himself.

“It was very dead ground in the Tolworth and he wasn’t quite right on the day as it turned out.

“He needs time between his races and he’s had a reasonable amount of time this time.

“We will just ride him different up there. He will be fairly prominent, I’d say. It’s a speed track and it makes sense.

“He has a great owner (Pat Gallagher), so it would be good to see him win a Grade One for him. We have always thought a lot of this horse.”

You Wear It Well is one of two mares in the Aintree heat
You Wear It Well is one of two mares in the Aintree heat (Mike Egerton/PA)

Jamie Snowden insists You Wear It Well, one of two mares in the line-up, is in better shape than ever, following her Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle success at Cheltenham.

Though she has a bit to find with Hermes Allen, who beat her in the Challow at Newbury in December, Snowden feels she has improved, with a step back up in trip also a benefit.

He said: “Obviously she came out of Cheltenham really well. She is looking great in herself, in fact she’s probably looking better than she has all season.

“She is really blossoming, so comes here hopefully with a chance. We are taking on the boys, so she has got to step forward again, but she gets a 7lb allowance, considering she had the penalty at Cheltenham. She has got a lot in her favour and stepping up in trip will help her.”

Gordon Elliott feels improvement will be forthcoming from Irish Point
Gordon Elliott feels improvement will be forthcoming from Irish Point (Mike Egerton/PA)

The Willie Mullins-trained Dark Raven and Gordon Elliott’s Irish Point spearhead the Irish challenge.

The latter has twice been runner-up in Irish Grade Ones and picked up a Grade Three over an extended mile and seven furlongs at Naas last time.

Elliott said: “I was very happy with his win at Naas last time.

“He was good and honest when the going got tough. I’m hoping there is more improvement in him and we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on.”

The EFT Systems Magull Novices’ Chase, which opens the seven-race card on Grand National day, will see Jonbon attempt to atone for his defeat by El Fabiolo in the Arkle.

That was a first loss over fences for Nicky Henderson’s star, who takes on four rivals in the two-mile Grade One event.

Jonbon will bid to go one better than in the Arkle
Jonbon will bid to go one better than in the Arkle (David Davies/PA)

Henderson said: “We were toying with the two-and-a-half-mile race but in the end we just liked the look of the two-mile race for him, it just seemed the obvious place for him.

“He’s a very good horse, has only lost twice in his life and both at the (Cheltenham) Festival. He’s been great for us and he’s in very good form.”

Though the field does not appear to have the depth of the Arkle, there are a couple of unexposed types who could surprise.

Patrick Neville hopes Fusain, who slammed Stag Horn by 35 lengths at Catterick last time, is one of them.

He said: “He’s in great form and we’re happy with him going down there. He’s a horse who had a few problems, but we seem to have sorted them all out.

“He had wind surgery and a couple of other issues, but he’s sorted and hopefully he’s improving away. We’re looking forward to it. We are just taking a chance in a Grade One.

“Going back to two miles won’t be a problem and I think the track will suit him. It’s a speed track and a flat track, so hopefully that will help. It won’t be easy with Jonbon in there, but we’ll have a go.”

Moore eyeing easier assignment for Authorised Speed

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Gary Moore could lower the sights of Authorised Speed following his Tolworth Hurdle disappointment – with the Champion Bumper fifth now having to prove he is good enough to line-up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

The son of Authorized was sent off the 5-4 favourite for the Sandown Grade One on the back of two impressive victories over timber before Christmas.

However, he failed to land a blow in the hands of Jamie Moore as Paul Nicholls’ Tahmuras took home the glory, fading tamely before two out to leave a question mark over his Cheltenham Festival aspirations.

Authorised Speed ridden by jockey Jamie Moore almost falling to the ground but successfully staying on their feet in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park
Authorised Speed ridden by jockey Jamie Moore almost falling to the ground but successfully staying on their feet in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park (Steven Paston/PA)

The six-year-old was reported to have scoped dirty after the race and his trainer is now contemplating swimming in calmer waters for his next outing before making a decision on the gelding’s participation in the Prestbury Park opener.

“He had a bad scope after the race, but if I didn’t know that I would say he is fine,” said Moore.

“Obviously he hasn’t done a lot this week, but we have to put the race behind us and move on.

“I’m not too sure where he goes next, but I might just try to find a novice hurdle for a horse that’s not won more than two races. If I can find one of them, it might just be what I do.

“He will have an entry (for the Supreme) but he has to go and prove he’s good enough to go there.

“We did it last year and ran him in the (Champion) bumper, which he ran well in, but you don’t get a lot for finishing seventh do you, and you don’t want the horse having a hard race for nothing.”

Moore though, retains plenty of faith in Authorised Speed, and is certain his Sandown showing wasn’t a true reflection of his ability.

On the Tolworth run, he added: “It was 100 per cent not his true running, he’s a lot better than that. I’m not taking anything away from the winner, but that wasn’t his true running at all.”

Tolworth success with Authorised Speed would mean so much

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Victory for Authorised Speed in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle would be the perfect way to repay owner Pat Gallagher, according to trainer Gary Moore.

It was earlier in the year that Gallagher came to the Moore family’s rescue during the time Josh Moore was recuperating in a Liverpool hospital from numerous serious injuries sustained in a bad fall at Haydock.

The Champion Bumper fifth’s owner provided the family with the use of his helicopter for the duration of Josh’s long stay in hospital, which came as a huge help for the Sussex-based Moores in making the regular 250-mile plus journey to Merseyside.

With Josh now home and assisting his father at their Lower Beeding base, Moore believes success for Authorised Speed in the Grade One at Sandown on Saturday – which often serves as a key Supreme Novices’ Hurdle trial and was won last year by Constitution Hill – would be the “icing on the cake” in terms of showing his gratitude to Gallagher.

Moore said: “Pat is an unbelievable man and he was so helpful when Josh was in hospital. He is such a kind and generous man.

“I don’t know how many times I went to Liverpool in the helicopter to see Josh, it must have been six or seven times and that is not cheap to do that.

“It saved a lot of time and headaches on the road to fly me and Phoebe, Josh’s partner, up there. It was a massive help and he couldn’t have done any more.

“I could never do enough for him and to get him a Grade One winner would be fantastic.

“He has had a few flat horses with me before and he is very grateful for everything you give him, but a Grade One winner really would put the icing on the cake as a way of thanks.”

With Luccia an expected absentee, Authorised Speed is set to face seven rivals this weekend – all bar two of which are last-time-out winners.

Market opposition to Authorised Speed comes from Tahmuras, who runs for Paul Nicholls, and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Arctic Bresil who makes the journey from Ireland and will be ridden by Rachael Blackmore.

Luccia and Authorised Speed on course for Tolworth showdown

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Luccia is set to take on the boys with her name one of 11 to appear in the list of entries for the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday.

The unbeaten five-year-old has already tasted Listed success at the Esher track when winning a bumper there last March and added a further victory at that level when making an impressive hurdling debut at Newbury in November.

She now steps up to Grade One action looking to enhance trainer Nicky Henderson’s fine record in the race and follow up Constitution Hill’s impressive triumph for Seven Barrows 12 months ago.

Authorised Speed has a course and distance win to his name and the Champion Bumper fifth looks a real classy operator for Gary Moore, while Tahmuras is two from two over obstacles and looks to give Paul Nicholls a third Grade One success in as many weeks.

Colin Tizzard won the race in 2017, 2019 and 2020 and son Joe now looks to keep the Venn Farm record going by saddling Scarface, who is unbeaten in two outings over further this term. He has plenty of experience to his name and will look to bring his stamina to the fore dropping back in trip.

L’Astroboy has only been sighted twice, but has created a taking impression each time and represents Evan Williams, while Jamie Snowden saddled the runner-up in Newbury’s Challow Hurdle on Saturday and attempts to go one better with Colonel Harry who was a clear-cut seven-length scorer at Sandown when last sighted.

Arctic Bresil after winning on debut at Cork
Arctic Bresil after winning on debut at Cork (Thomas Weekes/PA)

Henry de Bromhead’s Arctic Bresil downed a well-regarded favourite when recording an easy victory on hurdling debut at Cork and is the only possible raider from Ireland.

Ukantango (Olly Murphy), Blow Your Wad (Tom Lacey), Nemean Lion (Kerry Lee) and Joe Dadancer (Ben Pauling) complete the list of those potential runners.