Amazing Admiral!
ADMIRAL is a serious racehorse. He has not had his prefered good ground in either of his hurdles races so far this season, yet he defied a 14lb rise in the weights to grind out a victory in the Free Hurdle at Chepstow, and today at Haydock shrugged off another 11lb hike in a hugely gutsy performance in the 4yo Nerak Hurdle. He'd done all the donkey work up to the last flight, was headed by Nicky Richards' equally promising Faasel on the long run-in, but would not be denied in a desperate finish to get the verdict by a short head.
Richard Guest's eulogising that the horse could become a legend is clearly premature, but the facts are that the horse is now the highest-rated hurdler he's ever trained - SPECTROMETER was also mid-140s, but Admiral's victory here will result in another hike to put some distance between him and that one - and his winnings over hurdles for Guest and Willie Mackay have swollen by another £17,000 to around £54,000, all attained in this calendar year. A swift reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is now likely.
This also represented, of course, the first Brancepeth victory for over three weeks, but none of the other three runners at Haydock could add to that. St PIRRAN offered grounds for optimism in the opening Flat versus jump jockeys handicap hurdle, being sent to win his race by Flat's Dean McKeown turning for home but tiring into fifth on the unsuitably soft ground after the last. He finished well clear of the remainder, and should be getting close to the sort of fitness level from which he could start worrying rivals again in good-ground two mile chases.
Speaking of chases over the minimum trip, JERICHO III had his fourth run in quick order and for the second time this year didn't prove especially keen on the Lancashire track - odd, really, for a generally fearless jumper. He led until the seventh before deciding to give Patrick Merrigan some bother, cocking his jaw and proving the young rider with no help at all thereafter. He came home last of eight, and is starting to look a bit ungenuine again as well as high in the weights.
Finally, STORMY BAY made his racecourse debut in the concluding bumper for Bard Entertainments and Richard "Desert Orchid" Burridge, with JP Flavin sporting new Bard & Burridge colours of red and blue rather than the famous Dessie dark blue and grey. The horse looks a dour stayer, having got left behind in the early exchanges before staying on in the last half mile for a 12l ninth place. 2m 4f NH novices' hurdles are going to see him in a better light.
Richard Guest's eulogising that the horse could become a legend is clearly premature, but the facts are that the horse is now the highest-rated hurdler he's ever trained - SPECTROMETER was also mid-140s, but Admiral's victory here will result in another hike to put some distance between him and that one - and his winnings over hurdles for Guest and Willie Mackay have swollen by another £17,000 to around £54,000, all attained in this calendar year. A swift reappearance in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is now likely.
This also represented, of course, the first Brancepeth victory for over three weeks, but none of the other three runners at Haydock could add to that. St PIRRAN offered grounds for optimism in the opening Flat versus jump jockeys handicap hurdle, being sent to win his race by Flat's Dean McKeown turning for home but tiring into fifth on the unsuitably soft ground after the last. He finished well clear of the remainder, and should be getting close to the sort of fitness level from which he could start worrying rivals again in good-ground two mile chases.
Speaking of chases over the minimum trip, JERICHO III had his fourth run in quick order and for the second time this year didn't prove especially keen on the Lancashire track - odd, really, for a generally fearless jumper. He led until the seventh before deciding to give Patrick Merrigan some bother, cocking his jaw and proving the young rider with no help at all thereafter. He came home last of eight, and is starting to look a bit ungenuine again as well as high in the weights.
Finally, STORMY BAY made his racecourse debut in the concluding bumper for Bard Entertainments and Richard "Desert Orchid" Burridge, with JP Flavin sporting new Bard & Burridge colours of red and blue rather than the famous Dessie dark blue and grey. The horse looks a dour stayer, having got left behind in the early exchanges before staying on in the last half mile for a 12l ninth place. 2m 4f NH novices' hurdles are going to see him in a better light.
posted by Jeremy Grayson @ 7:25 AM
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