Torphichen

Torphichen ran a nice race to finish second to Lucky At Last in a 14-furlong qualified riders’ race at Galway on Monday. Settled just behind the leaders in the early stages, Thomas Barr’s gelding made nice progress down the far side and took it up around the home turn. He looked the most likely winner early in the home straight, but he couldn’t resist the late challenge of Lucky At Last up the hill, and he had to settle for the runner-up spot, just in front of Natural High, who came from a fair way back and looked a bit unlucky.

This was Torphichen’s first run for Edward O’Grady since he moved from David Pipe’s yard, and it was most encouraging. A winner over 10 furlongs on the flat, he was a really exciting novice hurdler last season, winning his first two most impressively, and he was well-backed for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but he ran disappointingly there. He also disappointed when odds-on for a juvenile contest back at Cheltenham in April. He still has it all to do to fulfil the potential that he showed last spring, but this was a good way to kick off this season. It can be difficult for the sophomore hurdlers when they have to take on the top dogs, but Torphichen will be of interest wherever he goes next.

26th October 2009