Rummaging

Given that he missed the break and was left a little at the start, Rummaging ran a huge race to finish fourth in the six-furlong handicap at The Curragh on Sunday.

Virtually every other horse bar Coquette Noir – who was always last and never got into it – broke on terms, so Rummaging was second last of the 23 runners through the first furlong. He was still effectively last of the larger stands side group passing halfway and, with so many horses in front of him, he had to be switched towards the far side, right the way around runners, to get a run, completely reversing the advantage of his high draw. He ended up making his run right down the middle of the track, virtually widest of all, and he ran on really well to snatch fourth place. The time of the race was good, faster than standard, and you have to think that, had he not had to come right the way around his field, he would have gone close.

Michael Halford’s horse had been slowly away at Dundalk on his penultimate run as well, and on some of his earlier runs, but he had been fine on his previous few runs. If Halford can solve sort out his start again now, there is surely more to come from him. He is lightly-raced for a five-year-old sprinter, so he still has the potential to progress. Also, this was just his fifth run of the season so he is quite a fresh horse for this time of year, and he will be interesting now for the remainder of the turf season. He will also be interesting at Dundalk over the winter, he won twice there at the end of last year.

He has plenty of form at seven furlongs and perhaps he could do with a return to that trip again now. His run here suggested that he could improve for the return to that trip.

15th September 2013