3rd November - Down Royal Review (AW)

3rd November – Down Royal

Going; Yielding to Soft (Times suggest Soft)

Deputy Consort landed the opener for Ruby Walsh and Michael O’Brien. A decent purchase from John Gosden’s stable, the winner had landed a maiden on his first start on the flat in Ireland and his trainer has clearly spotted something he can use in the horse. This was a fair performance and I’d expect the horse has a chance of taking a novice somewhere down the line. In second Island Life may be learning the game and a similar race should see an eventual win for Noel Meade’s charge.

Casey Jones did what a lot of Noel Meade’s runners have been doing this term, improving for the run, and this was a good display. He will get a trip and is a future chaser; he is definitely one to stay on the right side of and wont struggle to land a novice. Badgerlaw is proving difficult to win with and those in behind don’t appear to stand out as being worth taking any particular notice of. The winner is worth taking away though.

Grangeclare Lark landed the mares’ novice race. The race wasn’t brilliant but a few of the runners in there will be contesting similar events and the winner is a worthy yard stick that connections clearly think has ability. She may be able to take a similar event and those in the places should be able to take weaker races.

Only one horse worth focusing in on in the next. Iktitaf made it look too easy again. He’s oozing class and we’ll certainly know more once the bigger engagements come along. He’s tempting me for the Champion Hurdle the more I see of him. Comments from Noel Meade suggest that he is working Iktitaf with stable mate Harchibald, and I would be optimistically inclined to think that he is trying to create the champion in Iktitaf that he can’t quite manage to glean from Harchibald.

Patsy Hall is such a genuine performer for connections and he landed his first race over fences with a nice performance from the sure to improve Mac Three. Take the runner up from the race with confidence as this was a hot little chase. O’Muircheartaigh looked certain to strip fitter for the run after running really well on his reappearance and Merdeka never saw enough of the race on his chase debut. All of those mentioned are of a good standard, and I have a particular soft spot for Merdeka, but there may be little value in following that selection. I’d expect the second and third to both win next time out.

Fran Flood’s horses are running really well at the moment and The Pentitent Man, racing off a low weight, came to take the race from the front running Clochmhaoil Castle. The winner is a fairly exposed performer but whilst Fran Flood’s horses are in such good form I’d be hard pushed to oppose the winner next time out. Of those in behind I’m going to pick Swordlestown out as one to follow. A chance should come his way in time, but probably on better going.