PUNCHESTOWN
Preview review
When the preview was written, it was done under the assumption that the ground would at least have "good" in the description. In the event, the soft to heavy ground changed the complexion of the race as it was ultimately won by the only one who handled the conditions. Rock Chica was given reasonable prospects on her jumping potential and she put in a good round. The two Footstepsinthesand fillies ahead of her did not relish the conditions and Sister Eliza's jumping was not as good as it has been previously.
Race review
The contest did not look especially strong beforehand and it transpired to be a one horse race. The pace was steady but as with the previous juvenile at this venue earlier in the season, the field finished very tired. There was a big move for Dashing Diamond from 6/1 the night before, to 11/8 favourite at the off. However, she fell at the first.
Rock Chica achieved next to nothing in her six outings on the flat, but she made a reasonable start to her hurdling career at Punchestown last month. Even though she made a few blunders there, she also showed some aptitude and apart from getting slightly close to the sixth, put in a decent round here. Racing prominently from the beginning of the back straight, she jumped into a clear lead three out. After being ridden into the penultimate flight, was kept up to her work before coasting home from the last with an unassailable lead, giving her rider his first winner under rules. Quite what she achieved is difficult to assess as she was the only runner in the field who went through the ground. It is unlikely that the form amounts to much, but she is going in the right direction and it will be interesting to see how she fares in these conditions in a more substantial contest. Nevertheless, the 40/1 quote she received for the Triumph Hurdle afterwards is comical. 105
Zoom Zoom Babe was quoted at 40/1 for the Triumph Hurdle prior to this debut outing which as absurd now as it was yesterday morning. While she was a winner on the flat as a two-year-old and was a respectable performer on the flat, her yard would almost certainly have several more substantial candidates emerge between now and spring. She had to be ridden into the first where slightly hesitant, and she reached for the sixth, but otherwise, it was a solid round of jumping. Though she went odds-on in-running, that was likely due to the fall of the favourite as she never travelled with any real threat. She did enough to fend off her remaining rivals but was a tired horse in the straight and would need an easier test if she is to be competitive. 79
Capel At Dawn was a dual winner on the flat for Joseph O'Brien and was the highest rated horse in the field. Her jumping was good behind Quilixios at Punchestown and apart from getting close to the fourth and tired in the straight, jumped well again here. She had yet to prove her stamina however and her reserves were depleted by the end of the contest. Capel At Dawn is capable of being competitive in this sphere but may only do so in the least demanding conditions. 70
Sister Eliza had shown fair form over hurdles prior to a lacklustre run which prompted a break. However, her jumping was not as good as it had been previously after she dodged the faller at the first. She was then close to the second, low at the third, blundered at the fifth, hesitated at the next and was tired in the straight. Her stamina had been questionable beforehand and while she was still close enough entering the straight, she soon weakened quickly. Sister Eliza is another who is capable of better, but may only perform in kinder conditions. 64
Half Of Seven had not been seen since her sole start 435 days earlier and was fractious before the race. She led from the start, set a steady pace, and jumped well until three out where she surrendered the lead and rapidly dropped out of the race. She was virtually pulled up but this was not the worst introduction and this reasonably bred filly could improve for stripping fitter. 0
Dashing Diamond had feasible prospects coming into the race although neither her pedigree or trainer were particularly endearing beforehand. However, she was backed as though defeat was out of the question which suggests a good run was expected from this locally trained filly. Unfortunately, her stride was completely wrong approaching the first where she got in way too close and took a rolling fall. Thankfully she emerged unscathed and it will be interesting to see whether she can justify the market support next time, provided this is not the extend of her hurdling prowess. 0
EXETER
To Fly Free 20/10/2020 Exeter
To Fly Free's second start over hurdles saw her finish second to Soldier On Parade which resulted in her handicap mark rising four pounds a month later. She had been beaten on merit at Sedgefield off 98 but was favourite, albeit an uneasy one, to make amends here. She was more careful than usual over the first three hurdles and her slow jumping saw her drop to rear. She was more fluent from the fourth onwards and while she remain towards the back, she took a more prominent position turning into the straight. There was a moment where she looked like mounting a serious challenge but was rather bullied on the approach to the penultimate flight and would lose touch with the front two from there. To Fly Free was far from disgraced, particularly as the yard had gone nineteen runs without a winner. Nevertheless, some leniency from the handicapper would not be unwarranted. 96