Cross Kennon

It’s fairly likely that Cross Kennon would have gone very close had he not been brought down at the third-last in the highly-competitive three-mile handicap hurdle won by Lush Life at Cheltenham on Friday. He travelled well through the race, held up towards the rear, always beside the inside rail. He gradually made ground down the back and he was just getting into contention, still travelling well within himself, before the fall of Superior Wisdom brought him down at the flight before the straight.

Although it is difficult to say Cross Kennon would have won, given it was so far out when he was brought down, it is highly likely that he would have been at least involved at the finish. Jennie Candlish’s horse was just moving up at the time, he is a horse who finds lots for pressure, and he was actually travelling better than he was at the same point on his previous run, where he ran out a game winner at the same course during the November meeting off an 8lb lower mark. He had Viking Blond three lengths back in second that day, and Viking Blond was beaten just a neck and a nose here, on just 3lb better terms with Cross Kennon, so it is reasonable to assume that Cross Kennon would have gone close.

He has been a really progressive and consistent sort over the past two seasons, and he wasn’t beaten far behind Buena Vista in the Pertemps Final at last season’s Cheltenham Festival. He remains progressive, he is still just six, and there is still another one of these top staying handicap hurdles in him off his current mark of 138. He loves Cheltenham, the two best runs of his life have been there, and he could be even better than a handicapper.

10th December 2010