Tylery Wonder

Tylery Wonder did really well to last as well as he did to finish third, after he made most of the running, in the Joe McGrath Handicap, the big 24-runner six-furlong contest at The Curragh on Sunday.

The winner and runner-up, Nero Emperor and English Deer, were in the last five at half-way, an indication of how strong the pace had been, and the fourth horse home was no better than mid-division. Also, those three raced out in the centre of the track, while Tylery Wonder raced down the near side from stall 20, which may not have been an advantage on the day. It is not conclusive, and there is usually an advantage to be gleaned from racing down the stands rail on The Curragh’s straight track, but the riders seemed to want to race up the centre on Sunday and, if there was a bias, the advantage was probably towards the centre, not towards the near side.

Tylery Wonder bowled along in front travelling strongly, he kicked clear of those down the stands side a furlong and a half out and, while he didn’t have any answer to the finishing surges of the first two home, he stayed on well enough to just about beat all the others who raced close to the stands side.

Willie McCreery’s gelding is only three and, while he is not especially lightly raced, he appears to be progressive now. He had won a similar race over this course and distance on his previous run, he seems to really like this six-furlong course at The Curragh, and he goes well on good or quick ground. He probably isn’t done for the season yet, not while he is in this sort of form, and he will be of interest wherever he runs now, as long as the ground does not get too soft. He could progress again next season as a four-year-old.

29th September 2013