On Impulse

On Impulse put up a really nice performance to win the two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday. Always travelling well for Davy Russell in fourth place behind a decent pace that Lean Araig set, his jumping was good, and he jumped his way into the lead at the second last flight. From there, his rider just allowed him stride on, and he quickly put a distance of ground between himself and his pursuers as he rounded the home turn. There was never any doubt about his superiority from that point, and he jumped the final flight well and finished out his race nicely to win well, probably with more in hand than the winning margin of eight lengths.

This was a nice performance by the Flemensfirth gelding on his first run for Ted Walsh. Winner of his bumper for Harry Kelly on heavy ground at Thurles last February, he was a little disappointing when beaten on his debut over hurdles at Navan in September. However, he stepped forward significantly on that run to chase home the highly-talented Free Expression at Navan in early November. He did not have any answer to the winner’s turn of foot that day, but he travelled through the race like a good horse. Also, the winner could be very good indeed, he went and won the Grade 2 Monksfield Hurdle on his next run two weeks later.

Sunday’s run was probably another step forward from On Impulse. Again, he travelled through his race like a good horse, and he saw out the two-and-a-half-mile trip well. He was entitled to win as easily as he did, but there was a lot to like about the style of his win, the ease with which he travelled and the fluency with which he negotiated his hurdles. This two-and-a-half-mile trip suits him well, but he would also be interesting stepped up to three miles in time.

7th December 2014