Up For The Match

Up For The Match was ultimately really impressive in winning the two-mile-three-furlong handicap hurdle at Naas on Sunday, following up his win at Gowran last month from a 15lb higher mark.

He travelled and jumped well on what was just his fifth ever run. He settled really well off the strong pace, he made his ground in the home straight up the outside. Recent Punchestown scorer Cootamundra came there travelling better than him over the second last, but Up For The Match picked up well between the final two flights and cleared away in impressive fashion on the run-in to record a four-and-a-quarter-length win.

This was a hugely likeable performance from John Kiely’s Old Vic gelding, he proved once more that a big field is no concern for him despite his inexperience, and he displayed a really willing attitude from the second last hurdle. The time was really good too, almost bang on Racing Post par and by far the fastest comparative time on the hurdles course on the day. He is young and lightly-raced, he is most progressive, and he should be even better on better ground.

11th March 2012