Play The Market

Play The Market put up a nice performance in making all to win a maiden hurdle at Naas on Sunday, and he looks like he could go on from this. He couldn’t win a bumper from four attempts, and was quite well beaten on his hurdling debut back in November, but he has obviously progressed since then, he was backed into favouritism here, and he showed a really likeable attitude to fend of his rivals from the front.

It wasn’t a great race, but the time was good, less than a second slower than the time that the impressive Felix Younger clocked in winning the Grade 2 novice hurdle later on the card, and Play The Market created a good impression. He jumped fluently out in front, especially when he needed to up the home straight. He had looked a bit of a sitting duck as they levelled for home, with Spot Fine, Moyaliff and Simon Gray all looming up traveling better, but a quick jump at the second last kept him out in front, and, after another good jump at the last, he was always holding off the runner up Spot Fine through the final furlong.

Jessica Harrington’s gelding should progress again from this run, just his second over hurdles, and he shapes as though he will be even better up in trip (he is a half-brother to the Midlands National winner Minella Fourstar). He was wearing a tongue tie here, and he had also worn one for one of his bumper runs, so it may just be that he has a slight issue with his breathing, which means that he may be better on better ground too. For now, Play The Market is a novice hurdler to follow, up in trip and on better ground, his jumping will be a big asset wherever he goes now, and longer term, he should make up into a nice chaser.

26th February 2012