Raceday LIVE – Cave Article
Sedgefield,
Fri 06 Dec 2024 13:45
Related horse(s):
Cave Article
Cave Article has his second start over fences this afternoon at Sedgefield in the Class 5 Handicap Chase (13:45) over 3m2½f.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Cave Article's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
In his relatively young career as a racehorse, Cave Article has found himself up against some good horses in tough contests around the country. After some lowkey runs in his first three starts, he was awarded a fair enough handicap mark of 78 and sent to Fakenham for his handicap debut. He was backed off the boards on that day, and a big run was expected following the incredible support he saw in the market on that morning. Unfortunately, it didn't come to fruition as the track at Fakenham was far too tight for Cave Article to handle well with him being quite a big staying type of horse and the bends at the track being very sharp.
Brian Hughes, who is onboard again today, agreed with that sentiment when he got off Cave Article following the race, saying that he had to keep him up to his work going round the bends as he was slowing down into them too much and losing ground against the field when facing them. Cave Article struggled to make an impression in the closing stages of the race off the back of that, and Hughes gave him an easy ride in the finish, bringing him home in fifth place out of 10 runners.
WATCH: Brian Hughes reflects on Cave Article's handicap debut
Next up was Cave Article's chase debut, for which he was sent much closer to home just over the River Severn to Wincanton. He remained over the 2m4f trip that day, despite thoughts that he might appreciate going over longer distances, with a view to upping him in trip after he's taken some fences in a competitive situation.
He was well supported again early on that day, being the market favourite at one point in time, before being usurped by the Joe Tizzard-trained I Shut That d'Or before the off. The current reigning Champion Jumps Jockey, Harry Cobden, was in the hotseat for this race and set Cave Article off in a prominent position just in behind the early leader, and everything looked to be going well before the early pace of the race maybe began to catch up with him and he faded with two flights left to jump. He came home in third place that day and it was certainly a pleasing enough performance for his chase debut.
WATCH: Harry Cobden reviews Cave Article's opening chase contest
The decision to step Cave Article in trip followed that last run, and today he heads over the 3m2½f trip for the first time, which his pedigree suggests will suit. Hopefully he can navigate the couple of tight turns at Sedgefield better than he did at Fakenham, but the rest of the track is fairly suited to gallopers, and the fences are fairly easy to take, with only two flights in the home straight.
The going is set to be Soft this afternoon, which out of everything could be the main question mark for our five-year-old as Christian has previously mentioned he think he might prefer a slightly sounder surface.
Raceday message from Christian Williams
"Fingers crossed we get a nice run today. I think the track and the trip should suit him and Brian knows him well from riding him at Fakenham a couple of starts ago.
He had a good experience on his first start over fences at Wincanton last time out and hopefully he can take a step forward from there.
The only slight worry is the ground, because we're not sure if he wants the surface to be too soft. However, we can't judge him on that because we haven't seen him run on softer ground since he got his handicap mark.
Hopefully we can get him in the winners' enclosure for the first time today!"
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, gives his thoughts on Cave Article's chances at Sedgefield this afternoon, and those of his rivals
I expected a bit more from Cave Article when he switched to fences for the first time at Wincanton 15 days ago and I can’t have been the only one thinking an improved effort was on the cards given his strength in the market that day. In finishing third he still took a step forward from his previous runs over hurdles and I expect there should be better to come from him. Given the stamina in his pedigree the catalyst for progress could be a step up in trip to 3m2f here, alongside the fact Christian Williams has found him another weak race to contest.
It’s easy enough to make a handicapping case for Skyhill who is 4lbs below his last winning mark and has a good record at the track but he’s never won fresh from a break and his trainer Alison Hamilton is 1/56 in the past five years with horses that have been off for two months or more. As such his 225 day break looks likely to catch him out. Zuckerberg is also below his last winning mark and is a dual course winner but his stamina for the trip is unproven and he’s not reliable at the best of times while Old Page, who finally broke his maiden here three week ago, doesn’t appeal an an obvious type to follow up having won a poor race. In truth, this looks like a gilt-edged opportunity for Cave Article who looks the one to beat.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Christian Williams has had a quiet start to the season, with no winners from his 15 runners in the past fortnight, and only 15 winners since the season started at the end of May. Sedgefield is a course that the trainer typically does well at however, having saddled 8 winners from 20 runners at the course in his career, which isn't a surprise considering the distance from his yard that Sedgefield is. His only runner at the course this season finished third, with Cave Article set to be one of his three runners there today.
Brian Hughes has been very active recently, taking the reins on 39 horses and coming home with 6 winners in the last fortnight, most recently at Cartmel on Sunday. He's got a solid 20% strike-rate at Sedgefield in his career, with 234 winners from 1186 rides, and 5 of those winners have arrived this season. Christian Williams isn't a trainer that Hughes frequently rides for, having only sat on seven horses for the Welsh trainer without a winner.
Cave Article's 10 Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Cave Article's run at Sedgefield this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Sedgefield Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Cave Article and the Christian Williams team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Cave Article.
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 Handicap contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,494 | 3rd: £747 | 4th: £373 | 5th: £186
13:45 SEDGEFIELD – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 13:45 to watch Cave Article's next run for the Club live on the Coral Sports app.
Read our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Cave Article's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
In his relatively young career as a racehorse, Cave Article has found himself up against some good horses in tough contests around the country. After some lowkey runs in his first three starts, he was awarded a fair enough handicap mark of 78 and sent to Fakenham for his handicap debut. He was backed off the boards on that day, and a big run was expected following the incredible support he saw in the market on that morning. Unfortunately, it didn't come to fruition as the track at Fakenham was far too tight for Cave Article to handle well with him being quite a big staying type of horse and the bends at the track being very sharp.
Brian Hughes, who is onboard again today, agreed with that sentiment when he got off Cave Article following the race, saying that he had to keep him up to his work going round the bends as he was slowing down into them too much and losing ground against the field when facing them. Cave Article struggled to make an impression in the closing stages of the race off the back of that, and Hughes gave him an easy ride in the finish, bringing him home in fifth place out of 10 runners.
WATCH: Brian Hughes reflects on Cave Article's handicap debut
He was well supported again early on that day, being the market favourite at one point in time, before being usurped by the Joe Tizzard-trained I Shut That d'Or before the off. The current reigning Champion Jumps Jockey, Harry Cobden, was in the hotseat for this race and set Cave Article off in a prominent position just in behind the early leader, and everything looked to be going well before the early pace of the race maybe began to catch up with him and he faded with two flights left to jump. He came home in third place that day and it was certainly a pleasing enough performance for his chase debut.
WATCH: Harry Cobden reviews Cave Article's opening chase contest
The going is set to be Soft this afternoon, which out of everything could be the main question mark for our five-year-old as Christian has previously mentioned he think he might prefer a slightly sounder surface.
Raceday message from Christian Williams
"Fingers crossed we get a nice run today. I think the track and the trip should suit him and Brian knows him well from riding him at Fakenham a couple of starts ago.
He had a good experience on his first start over fences at Wincanton last time out and hopefully he can take a step forward from there.
The only slight worry is the ground, because we're not sure if he wants the surface to be too soft. However, we can't judge him on that because we haven't seen him run on softer ground since he got his handicap mark.
Hopefully we can get him in the winners' enclosure for the first time today!"
Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, gives his thoughts on Cave Article's chances at Sedgefield this afternoon, and those of his rivals
I expected a bit more from Cave Article when he switched to fences for the first time at Wincanton 15 days ago and I can’t have been the only one thinking an improved effort was on the cards given his strength in the market that day. In finishing third he still took a step forward from his previous runs over hurdles and I expect there should be better to come from him. Given the stamina in his pedigree the catalyst for progress could be a step up in trip to 3m2f here, alongside the fact Christian Williams has found him another weak race to contest.
It’s easy enough to make a handicapping case for Skyhill who is 4lbs below his last winning mark and has a good record at the track but he’s never won fresh from a break and his trainer Alison Hamilton is 1/56 in the past five years with horses that have been off for two months or more. As such his 225 day break looks likely to catch him out. Zuckerberg is also below his last winning mark and is a dual course winner but his stamina for the trip is unproven and he’s not reliable at the best of times while Old Page, who finally broke his maiden here three week ago, doesn’t appeal an an obvious type to follow up having won a poor race. In truth, this looks like a gilt-edged opportunity for Cave Article who looks the one to beat.
Trainer and Jockey Statistics
Christian Williams has had a quiet start to the season, with no winners from his 15 runners in the past fortnight, and only 15 winners since the season started at the end of May. Sedgefield is a course that the trainer typically does well at however, having saddled 8 winners from 20 runners at the course in his career, which isn't a surprise considering the distance from his yard that Sedgefield is. His only runner at the course this season finished third, with Cave Article set to be one of his three runners there today.
Brian Hughes has been very active recently, taking the reins on 39 horses and coming home with 6 winners in the last fortnight, most recently at Cartmel on Sunday. He's got a solid 20% strike-rate at Sedgefield in his career, with 234 winners from 1186 rides, and 5 of those winners have arrived this season. Christian Williams isn't a trainer that Hughes frequently rides for, having only sat on seven horses for the Welsh trainer without a winner.
Cave Article's 10 Owners for the Day
As winners of the recent Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Cave Article's run at Sedgefield this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Sedgefield Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Cave Article and the Christian Williams team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Cave Article.
Prize Money
Today's Class 5 Handicap contest is worth £6,150 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,247 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,494 | 3rd: £747 | 4th: £373 | 5th: £186
13:45 SEDGEFIELD – LATEST ODDS
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 13:45 to watch Cave Article's next run for the Club live on the Coral Sports app.
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