Redera

Redera ran an eye-catching race to finish third in the two-mile handicap hurdle won by Dul Ar An Ol on Hennessy day at Leopardstown on Sunday. He had far from the ideal trip, he was four or five wide the whole way, and forced even wider at times. He was still well back as they turned into the home straight, but he stayed on nicely down the outside, closing all the way to the line.

This was Redera’s first run since last November when he finished down the field behind Steps To Freedom and Prospect Wells in a hot novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham’s November meeting, so he is entitled to be a bit sharper next time now. He notched up a hat-trick over hurdles last summer, and, while he was 13lb higher here than he was when he won the third race in that sequence, on this evidence he remains progressive and highly competitive off this sort of mark.

The ground wasn’t too bad at Leopardstown on Sunday, but Tony Martin’s gelding should be even better on even better ground. He was considered good enough to run in the Premier handicap at The Curragh on Derby weekend last year, and in last year’s Galway Hurdle. He has plenty of experience, but he is still only six, and he is interesting now. He seems to be at his best when held up off a fast pace, and he could be a horse for one of the big two-mile handicaps now, possibly the County Hurdle. He has been raised 3lb for this run which is fair, he did give away a lot of ground by racing so wide, and he could have gone even closer, although admittedly the winner, Dul Ar An Ol, was probably idling in front and possibly would have been able to pull out more if required. That 3lb rise should see Redera get into the County Hurdle on a nice low weight. Martin’s horses are in fine form, and he would have a chance if he were to travel to Cheltenham.

12th February 2012