Tag Archive for: Guetapan Collonges

Longsdon hoping for the best with ‘improving’ Guetapan Collonges

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Guetapan Collonges may be one of the favourites for for Saturday’s Boulton Group Midlands Grand National – but trainer Charlie Longsdon is worried that the race may come too early in his career.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has won four of his eight starts over fences and will be reunited with Jonjo O’Neill Jr, who steered him to victory at Warwick in November.

Subsequently a fine fourth to Iwilldoit in the Classic Chase at that same track over a testing three miles and five furlongs, he bounced back to winning ways under Brian Hughes at Uttoxeter last month.

Four and a quarter miles in likely soft ground will be a step into the unknown for both himself and many of his rivals, but Longsdon feels he should cope.

“He is still an improving horse and you’d think this type of race would suit him,” said the Oxfordshire-based handler.

“It is in the back of my mind that in a year’s time he might be better, because he would be a bigger, stronger horse. He is still quite a weak horse.

“I know he is at the top of the market, but he has still got to reverse form with the likes of Iwilldoit.”

Having already won a Welsh Grand National and a Classic Chase, the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit must carry the burden of 12st, whereas Guetapan Collonges has a more attractive weight of 10st 5lb.

Longsdon added: “He has a nice weight and he is certainly the type who will do well in races in the future.

“He ran lovely and learned a lot at Warwick. This is another step up and it will be soft ground, which he will like.

“He has still got to stay four miles and two (furlongs), which will be tough for anyone.

“The horse is improving and he will be a nicer horse next year. I hope he could be a Grand National horse in the future – he certainly looks that kind of horse.”

The Two Amigos bids to back up his Coral Welsh National success
The Two Amigos bids to back up his Coral Welsh National success (David Davies/PA)

The Two Amigos gave Nicky Martin the biggest success of her training career when lifting the Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas following a string of consistent performances in staying handicaps.

Although only eighth in this contest in 2021, Martin feels the 11-year-old’s chance are improving with every drop of rain that falls.

She said: “Fingers crossed, I hope it keeps raining. He’s in good form and as long as it keeps raining, he’ll be fine. He loves these sort of races.

“He is in good order and he’s quite big odds for what I’d thought he’d be.”

French Paradoxe could have won his last five chases, according to his traine
French Paradoxe could have won his last five chases, according to his trainer (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

French Paradoxe hopes to give the Mick Fitzgerald Racing Club syndicate owners another day to remember.

The eight-year-old is three from six over the larger obstacles and scored with some ease at Newcastle on is last run in January for trainer Oliver Signy.

“Now the rain has come, we are looking forward to it,” said the Upper Lambourn handler.

“We think it is a big advantage. It is going to be a gruelling test, but at Newcastle he was easing down after they had gone a strong gallop to start with. Hopefully, he will be there or thereabouts.

“He should have won his last five chases but obviously he fell twice at Ffos Las and it didn’t go according to plan.

“Otherwise, he has worked very well. Gavin (Sheehan) has been very pleased with his schooling and while he hasn’t been over this trip before, with everything he has done, you’d hopefully expect him to get the trip.”

Secret Reprieve looks to regain the form that saw him win the Welsh National
Secret Reprieve looks to regain the form that saw him win the Welsh National (David Davies/PA)

Secret Reprieve seeks a first success since winning the delayed Welsh National of 2020 for trainer Evan Williams and owner William Rucker in January of 2021.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old has shown more like his old form in a couple of races this term, finishing well when second to Farinet at Chepstow in early December and latterly when a staying-on third to Rapper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.

Williams says he still needs to see more to become the horse he thought he always promised to be, however.

“He hasn’t shown any form like when he won the Welsh National. We are just hoping he can recapture that form,” he admitted.

“He looked to be showing more of his spark last time, but we just need to be moving on a bit from there, don’t we?

“Fingers crossed we can. I have no reason why he hasn’t done what we had hoped. We can only think he put a lot into that Welsh National win.

“We have 100 per cent always thought he was a Grand National horse, but you’d have to say that we are long way from where we thought we’d be – there’s no doubt in that.

“I thought we could have sprung forward, but we haven’t. There we are, we’ll have a go on Saturday and see where we are.”

Cheltenham run not ruled out for Rare Edition

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Rare Edition is reported to have scoped dirty following his second in the Sidney Banks, but Charlie Longsdon is willing to let him take his chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle providing he works well prior to the Cheltenham Festival opener.

The six-year-old won his first three outings over timber in impressive fashion and was sent off the 4-5 favourite to extend his winning run at Huntingdon last week.

Forced to make his own running in a muddling three-runner affair, he failed to pick up in his usual manner when challenged by Fergal O’Brien’s Marble Sands, who took advantage of Rare Edition’s off day to scoop the Listed prize.

Having not shown his usual zest, Longsdon is now keen to give him a thorough MOT before building up to the Festival – where the gelding will drop back to two miles if his homework sends out the correct signals.

“Rare Edition, he’s fine,” said Longsdon. “He didn’t scope quite clean after the race and I will get him investigated properly next week.

“I take nothing away from the winner because he’s a good horse, but he didn’t pick up like he usually does. Whether a muddling race didn’t suit him I don’t know, but a proper pace where he can sit in behind, he’ll jump better. He was looking around and everything and it just didn’t work.

Rare Edition ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies goes on to win the at Kempton on Boxing Day
Rare Edition ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies goes on to win the at Kempton on Boxing Day (John Walton/PA)

“He’ll be fine and if he works well before Cheltenham, he’ll go to Cheltenham. He’ll stick at two miles – a strongly-run two miles will be fine.

“I’m not too concerned (about the defeat), I just want to make sure he’s all right as he just looked a bit flat.

“We’ve still got four weeks (until Cheltenham) and I’ll get him properly checked over at the beginning of next week. We’ll just see and I’ll get him out in the field as much as possible – he will be all right.”

Meanwhile Longsdon is eyeing a return to Uttoxeter for the Midlands Grand National with Guetapan Collonges following the seven-year-old’s victory over Mister Coffey at the Staffordshire track on Saturday.

“He ran really well and he learnt a lot from running at Warwick,” continued Longsdon.

“He learnt a ton and therefore he was more streetwise for this. He was a baby in the Classic Chase and it was the making of him at Warwick.

“I would love to go back to Uttoxeter for something like a Midlands National, but I will leave that to Frank (Berry) and JP (McManus) and let them decide.

“He’s going the right way. I said after the Classic Chase he was a bit too weak at the moment, but he’s learning the whole time.”

Guetapan Collonges steps up in intriguing Classic Chase

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Guetapan Collonges looks to prove his stamina in the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase at Warwick on Saturday.

The Charlie Longsdon-trained gelding has been rising through the ranks since graduating to steeplechasing, winning three of his past four outings over fences with the sole loss caused by a fall.

He has been incrementally stepped up in trip and will progress to an even longer distance in the three-mile-five-furlong Classic Chase.

Bred along the same lines at Grand National winner Neptune Collonges, staying power should be no issue for the gelding and under a relative featherweight of 10st 3lb, he lines up with a live chance.

“I’m looking forward to see him going, to be honest. It is a step up in class, but he seems very fit and well in himself,” Longsdon said.

“It is a big ask. A big step up in grade, but he is in a handicap, so it can’t be the wrong race.”

Guetapan Collonges has track form under his belt having won at Warwick last time, and has jumped with increasingly fluency as his career has progressed.

“He produced a nice run at Warwick last time, especially since he over-jumped the last and stumbled a bit and got back up and won nicely, going away,” said Longsdon

“I’m looking forward to it. He is the sort of horse for all those Nationals and he stays all day, but there is nothing set in stone. He is that sort of horse – a National horse.”

Adrian Heskin and Threeunderthrufive
Adrian Heskin and Threeunderthrufive (Tim Goode/PA)

Carrying top-weight is Paul Nicholls’ Threeunderthrufive, whose Coral Gold Cup bid came to an premature end when he unseated Adrian Heskin at the first fence.

An alternative run in the Welsh Grand National did not come to fruition as he was felt to be a little off his best when declarations were made, but connections are hoping he will develop in a National horse and that Warwick is a successful stepping stone to that target.

Iain Turner, racing manager to owners the McNeill family, said: “He’s in really good shape. Ideally he wouldn’t want to be carrying 12st in what is increasingly bad ground, but he doesn’t qualify for Taunton next week, for the Portman Cup, so we need to get cracking with him.

“Possibly his best novice chase appearance was on the same card last year, when he won the Grade Two (Hampton Novices’ Chase).

“Ever since he won at Cheltenham as a novice chaser, Paul said he was a National horse in time and I think that what we always had in mind.

“Newbury didn’t go to plan. It will be interesting as this is handicap company and quite a big field, bigger than most of the races he’s run in so far. These are all things he’s going to have to learn if he’s going to be going for a National.”

Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard
Iwilldoit and Stan Sheppard (David Davies/PA)

Sam Thomas’ Iwilldoit will run for the first time in over a year as he teams up with jockey Stan Sheppard.

The 10-year-old won the 2021 Welsh Grand National when last seen, proving his stamina at Chepstow in testing ground.

A comeback victory would be especially significant for the Thomas stable as the trainer was involved in a helicopter crash in November along with owner Dai Walters.

“To win this for Sam would be great given everything that has gone on in his life over the last few months,” Sheppard said.

“Stolen Silver hit the cross bar for him at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and hopefully we can go one better and give him another big-race winner.

“It was a very good day last season winning the Welsh Grand National. It was worth getting down to 10st 4lb, which I hadn’t done for a long time.

“In races like this you need a lot of luck to go your way as more things can go right than wrong.”

Chris Honour is represented by Grumpy Charley, an eight-year-old last seen claiming a tough win in soft ground at Newbury.

Grumpy Charley and Bryan Carver (left)
Grumpy Charley and Bryan Carver (left) (Nigel French/PA)

The grey seemed to relish both the conditions and the three-mile-two-furlong trip, and a repeat performance under James Bowen make him a contender on ground currently described as heavy.

“It wasn’t the plan to go to go here, we were going to go for the Peter Marsh next week but the weather’s not looking great,” Honour said.

“He feels very well in himself, he’s eating very well and so we thought we’d take a chance.

“When things are in his favour he’s very good. He loves soft ground, three-mile-five in heavy ground is going to be hard work, but if he runs like the last day… He was really galloping for us and he didn’t come home excessively tired.

Grumpy Charley during his hurdling days
Grumpy Charley during his hurdling days (David Davies/PA)

“It’s not ideal, 14 days in between races, but sometimes you’ve got to go with what you’ve got and he’s very well at home.

“We’ll take our chances, the prize money is there and you can’t begrudge the prize money if you don’t go for it when it is there! We’re hopeful.”

Willie Mullins sends Mr Incredible over from Ireland, with Richard Hobson set to run Lord Du Mesnil and Ben Pauling fielding Nestor Park.

Venetia Williams’ Commodore will line up along with Henry Daly’s Fortescue and Sandy Thomson’s Dingo Dollar.

Guetapan Collonges expected to thrive for Warwick stamina test

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Charlie Longsdon’s well-related Guetapan Collonges is preparing to line up for a tilt at Warwick’s Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase on Saturday.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has been making progress as a steeplechaser, winning three of his six starts over fences and continually improving while gradually stepping up in trip.

A fall at Sedgefield in March is the only defeat of his past four runs, the most recent of which was a Warwick success over three miles and one and a half furlongs in November.

A further step up in trip now beckons for Classic Chase, a premier handicap run over three miles and five furlongs.

Stamina will come to the fore over that distance and Longsdon’s runner comes from a family in abundant supply of that trait as he is from the same bloodline as 2012 Grand National winner Neptune Collonges.

The latter has a French-trained full-sister named Saturne Collonges who in turn foaled Guetapan Collonges – making Neptune and Guetapan uncle and nephew in human terms.

“It’s a big step up in grade, but he won nicely around Warwick last time,” Longsdon said.

“Soft ground and further distance should suit him, we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on.

“The further he goes, the better he goes, and this will be an acid test of whether or not he’s good enough.”

Guetapan Collonges’ jumping seemed to have taken a step forward when he was last seen at Warwick, but he is still relatively lightly-raced and in a field of seasoned chasers he will carry a second-from-bottom weight of just 10st 3lb.

Longsdon said: “His jumping has definitely improved so all we can do now is hope, he’s under 10st 3lb and that is definitely the right end of the handicap.”