Sadler’s Risk

Sadler’s Risk may not get the credit that he deserves for winning the Munster National at Limerick on Sunday, because of the incident at the fourth fence, when favourite Perfect Promise fell and hampered or brought down several rivals, but Henry de Bromhead’s horse put up a fine performance in winning.

Quickly into a nice even rhythm for Andrew Lynch at the head of the main group that raced behind the two pace-setters Rogue Angel and Opening Batsman, Sadler’s Risk was a little sticky over one or two of his obstacles, but he was always safe, and he didn’t lose much ground at any, with the notable exceptions of the last two fences in the back straight final time.

He did well to recover from those mistakes just as the pace was increasing. Lynch had to ride him after his first mistake, in order that he recover his momentum and retain third place, but his mistake at the last in the back straight was even more serious and could have ended his chance.

He dropped back from third to sixth place, but he remained in touch with the leaders along the inside and, when his rider asked him to pick up again as they started to round the home turn, he duly responded. He came back on the bridle on the crown of the home turn, and he moved through to hit the front on the inside on the run to the second last fence.

He got in tight to that obstacle and landed flat-footed as Carriganog passed him and Spring Heeled challenged him. He picked up again, however, on the run to the last, he rose in front at that obstacle, which he met in his stride as Carriganog unseated his rider, and he stayed on powerfully up the run-in to retain his advantage over Spring Heeled, actually moving on again from him inside the final 50 yards.

It was a fine performance from the Sadler’s Wells gelding, especially given that he raced handily in a race in which the second, third, fourth and fifth were all held up. This was his first attempt at three miles over fences and, while his attempts at the trip over hurdles were not entirely encouraging regarding his stamina, his performance in the Galway Plate over an extended two miles and six furlongs was, and he stayed the trip really well. The handicapper raised him 6lb to a mark of 150, which is 10lb higher than his mark over hurdles, but he still has scope to progress further over fences. He is only seven and this was just his fifth chase.

11^th October 2015