The feature of the day here, and it promised to deliver with the 2 best Irish Hurdlers around and all of the top runners in the country (for this discipline) around, apart from Go Native. The pace wasn’t overly strong, result in many being in with a chance, but the first 2 (who are class acts in their own right) pulled nicely clear and the form looks like it’ll stand up.
This was the second time that HURRICANE FLY had beaten Solwhit, an achievement made all the more impressive considering it was just his third run in open company due to injury and ninth overall. It’s clear that he has the ability to run a big race in the Champion Hurdle, but a quote of 7-2 for the race from Stan James looks an overreaction to a performance that would seem only marginally better than his Rabobank Champion Hurdle winner on his last run, for all that he beat Solwhit by further.
He was keen for the first part of the race, but when they bunched up coming to the third last it was clear that he was going well, and when he was let clear at the second last, it was clearly only a question of how far. In the end he had to work hard to get past Solwhit, but he impressed with just how well he stuck to his task in willing fashion, keeping his head low and driving forward for victory, all qualities that encourage hugely for his chances at Cheltenham. How fit he remains will be very interesting, especially as connections plan to have the full campaign, going onto the December Festival Hurdle on December 29 and then the Irish Champion before Cheltenham.
It’s hard to think of a top level horse that’s more reliable than Solwhit, and this is the sixth time in his last seven that he’s been in the first 2, and it should be remembered that his Champion hurdle effort was coming after an infection suffered just 10 days earlier; He was travelling better than all bar Hurricane Fly before the latter got asked the question and would have been a clear winner but for him. You wouldn’t fancy him turning around the form with the winner if he stayed fit, but he shouldn’t be far away and will be a force to be reckoned with at all the major events this season. He’s only 6 too.
Voler La Vedette confirmed herself able to participate at the top table with this third placed finish, which makes her very interesting for all the top events this season given that she appeared to stay 2m4f fully, and goes on ground better than this; Should she go for the Mares race at the festival, she’d be the one to beat, with Quevga looking set to go for the World Hurdle. She looks more grown up this year.
This was another top class effort from Mourad with Katie Walsh on top, and this beckons very well for his chances this season; I doubt we’ll be seeing him over 3 miles much but the first 3 are all extremely high class horses and he should win plenty of graded events this season; I should think it won’t be too long before Katie Walsh wins a Grade 1 too; She could make up into a top class jockey.
Oscar Dan Dan hasn’t been in the same sort of form since last year’s win but he ran a bold race here, only fading after 2 out and looking he could shock a few when leading at the top of the home turn. He should land a decent event this season; For all he’s exposed.
Of the others, Jumbo Rio hasn’t run to his best for a good while and the Noel Meade pair Atitmatov and Donnas Palm clearly weren’t up to running their best; When found in better form, both will almost certainly land decent events at fair prices.
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