Kandari

Finally, Kandari ran an eye-catching race in the County Hurdle. Held up in rear in the early stages by Slippers Madden, he travelled like the most likely winner on the run to the last, but found disappointingly little up the hill on the run-in, and faded to finish fifth, a startling 15 lengths behind the winner.

It is almost certain that there is much more to come from Kandari. A multiple winner on the flat in France, the son of Kahyasi is only five, and was having just his fourth run over hurdles for Noel Meade last week. It was an arduous task for one so inexperienced to be pitched into the County Hurdle, but he acquitted himself really well, travelling like a classy individual for most of the race. He is rated 131 in the UK, but just 120 in Ireland, so he could be one for one of the big two-mile handicap hurdles at Fairyhouse or Punchestown where better ground and a less taxing run-in should portray him in an even better light.

© The Sunday Times, 22^nd March, 2009