A really smart ride from Ruby Walsh on winner as he tracked the pacesetting Dazzling Susie and therefore got first run on the pack in behind, who by accident or design let the first pair get on with things.
Although his rivals closed before the home turn, Walsh still had his mount on the bridle in a fine rhythm and he kicked on off the home turn. Two quick and alert jumps at the closing flights sealed the win, as whilst Galileo’s Choice tried to close in behind, there was never any hint that he would be overhauled.
He did seem to idle a little late on, so connections may hold onto him a tad longer next time, but he beat his rivals up here and looks like a proper horse. His best performances have come on testing ground, so that’s certainly something to bear in mind, as is the trainer’s fine record in this race, but he was unsurprisingly cut for various Cheltenham races afterwards.
Unless it comes up very testing the Neptune would look a more obvious route than the Supreme Novices’, but there’s plenty of time before then.
Runner-up Galileo’s Choice looks a fine beast, and he did by far the best of those who were held up. Classy on the flat, he has taken smartly to hurdles and was just very unfortunate to bump into a (well-ridden class act here. To his credit he kept on trying all the way home but couldn’t really trouble the winner.
He looks a more interesting contender for the Supreme given his ability to act on good ground, along with his flat speed, and it was no surprise to see bookmakers generally leave him alone at around 16/1.
Miss Nomer was third, and she ran well having been outpaced from around halfway. She was getting plenty of weight here but emerges with more credit than either Midnight Game or Il Fenomeno. The former looks a tad tricky and blundered any slim chance away two out, whilst the latter was well-backed but seemed to resent being ridden more patiently and found very little for pressure when the pace quickened.
Another fine round of jumping from who leapt up many ante-post lists, although which race he might contest at Cheltenham is a matter of opinion. Personally I’d be surprised if he turns up there, as his form is all on very testing ground and he’s unlikely to get that in March.
Mind you, he’s a fantastic animal and looked in total command here from a long way out. Imperial Shabra, Alpha Ridge and Shinrock Paddy all buzzed off into a frantic early pace, and the Gigginstown runners were happy to sit back.
However Bog Warrior was fencing so smartly and tanking along that Ruby Walsh had him into the lead at the sixth. He continued to stretch the field out, and skipped clear of his rivals when First Lieutenant battered the eighth fence and nearly unseated.
Only Rivage D’Or could keep any sort of track on Bog Warrior, but once the pair turned for home there was only one horse still on the bridle, and Tony Martin’s charge came home alone.
It will be interesting to see how he fares in a bigger field, but he’s a horse to follow and his trainer thinks the world of him. He jumps, gallops, and will get three miles no bother.
Ultimately Shinrock Paddy, who hadn’t fenced terribly well, plugged on for second after the last. He likes to get on with things and will be of interest when his sights are lowered and when he can cut out an uncontested lead.
Rivage D’Or doesn’t seem to find too much off the bridle, but deserves some credit for trying to put it up to Bog Warrior before the third-last. He’s decent, if not top class, and will find easier openings than this.
There was a massive gap back to Imperial Shabra who had no chance, and Alpha Ridge who blundered as the pace quickened and was tailed off thereafter.
The obvious disappointment of the race was First Lieutenant. He was a tad ponderous at his early fences, as he has been on occasions so far this season, but his race finished with a blunder at the eighth. How jockey Davy Russell stayed on top I’ll never know, but he did, and the horse actually worked his way back into it. However the effort was all too much and when the pace lifted he was left behind, before being pulled up after two out.
It later emerged that he had burst a blood vessel but you get the impression his next run over fences will be key to his season. This ground was too soft it should be said, so perhaps an easier race on better ground over three miles may mean we see the real First Lieutenant.
first Grade One win and a smashing performance, in admittedly a below-par race for the grade.
With just four runners, the pace was always going to be a question mark, but to be fair to Final Approach, he took them along at a decent clip. The winner didn’t jump that well early on in last but the field was bunched before the turn for home.
At this point she was niggled along to keep tabs on her rivals, being taken (sensibly to the outside by Andrew Lynch. Under firm pressure she hung in to her right slightly at the second-last but jumped it well and then moved into the lead before the last. She quickened nicely away and winged the final flight, coming home a comfortable three lengths clear of Mourad.
Although the early pace was decent, the race did inevitably turn into a bit of a sprint and so the form isn’t anything to get carried away with. A top level win had been the plan since she came back from the paddocks and it will be interesting to see her campaign this year. She’s tried beating Quevega at Cheltenham before but may just struggle again off level weights, as it’s worth remembering that she got 7lbs from the boys here.
Mourad eventually took second, and connections will be pleased with this reappearance. He’s not traditionally been at his best first time out, and this trip was short enough, but he travelled nicely into the race and only really lost out when the pace quickened before the last. He rallied well for second and connections will look for better ground next time, with ultimately a crack at Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle (third last season a fair target.
The Real Article was over 2m 4f here and had stamina to prove. He moved into the race very smoothly but had no response to the winner. He looked a tad one-paced late on, so a drop back to two miles and a bigger field would be preferable next time.
Final Approach made a perfectly adequate return to action. His handicap mark is high so he might not be the easiest to place this year, but he still held every chance turning in and wasn’t given the hardest time once headed. He may also find this trip taxing enough, for the time being at least (he’s only five and he’s not one to take lightly when next seen, espeically over two miles.
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