Sumos Novios

Sumos Novios put up a really nice performance to win the two-mile-six-furlong handicap chase at Punchestown on Sunday. Always up in the front rank, either leading or disputing from the first fence, his jumping was really good. Robbie Power kept him towards the outside, but he travelled well in front to the home turn. Empire Of Dirt challenged him from that point, and the pair of them pulled clear of the chasers, but it never looked likely that Colm Murphy’s horse would catch the leader. He came clear on the run to the last, popped over that obstacle adequately, and stayed on all the way to the line to win by four and a half lengths.

Strong in the pre-race market, this was a fine performance by Liam Burke’s horse on his first run since last February. He was a progressive novice last season, he was fourth in Valseur Lido’s beginners’ chase in November and he was second to Mala Beach in his in December before he got off the mark over fences at Thurles in February. Winner of his only point-to-point, he is a big long-striding typical staying steeplechaser, so, just seven, he should continue to progress over fences now. This was just his fourth chase.

He is probably at his best on easy ground, even though those runs behind Valseur Lido and Mala Beach were on goodish ground, so he should be a horse for the winter now. He holds an entry in the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, and he will be of interest if he takes his chance in that. If he doesn’t, he will be of interest wherever he goes next. He stays well, and he could be an Irish National horse, especially if we get soft ground at Fairyhouse next Easter.

6^th December 2015