Dandridge

Dandridge put up a really impressive performance to land the two-mile handicap chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

Settled in mid-division and towards the outside through the early stages of the race by Donagh Meyler, he travelled well through his race, and his jumping was good. Widest and all up and over Rose Hill, he made nice progress towards the leaders on the outside as they turned down the side of the track. He jumped into third place at the cross fence, moved into a dispute of second place at the fourth last fence, and joined Red Spinner in front at the third last. He sauntered into the lead on the run to the second last fence, jumped that fence well with his ears pricked. He popped the last and was just kept going by Meyler to win by a really easy five lengths.

The winning time was decent, just 0.07secs/furlong slower than Racing Post par, and Arthur Moore’s horse left the impression that he could have gone even faster. He relished this test a fast-run two miles on good ground. This is very close to optimal for him. He has won four times now, once over hurdles and three times over fences, and the ground has been no worse than good to soft on any of the four occasions. It was good to firm when he won his beginners’ chase at Tramore last August.

The handicapper raised him 8lb to a mark of 133, and that is fair. He could have got more, he won with plenty in hand. Also, he has lots of scope for further progression. He is only seven and this was just his eighth run over fences. He will be of interest now in another but two-mile handicap chase. The Grand Annual at Cheltenham and the Red Rum Chase at Aintree have to come onto his radar now.

30^th January 2016