Bobabout

Bobabout did really well to win the two-mile handicap hurdle that opened proceedings at Punchestown on Thursday.

A little keener than ideal through the early stages of the race, Jessica Harrington’s horse was really badly hampered when Orchard Road fell in front of him at the fourth last flight. Indeed, rider Robbie Power said afterwards that, he was so badly hampered in that incident, he thought about pulling his horse up. But he hunted away and, as he started passing horses, he started to work his way into the race. He went around the home turn on the inside, got a nice split on the run to the final flight, and he stayed on gallantly to get up and beat Runyon Rattler by a nose.

It was a big performance by Jessica Harrington’s horse. He lost lots of ground and momentum in that incident, he was almost brought to a standstill, so he obviously had bundles in hand, given that he was able to win after suffering that interference. The Big Bad Bob gelding had run on the flat at Navan the previous Sunday, but he hadn’t run over hurdles since he finished well behind Dinaria Des Obeaux and Ex Patriot at Fairyhouse in February. That was a Grade 3 juvenile hurdle, and he has been racing against the best juvenile hurdlers in Ireland all season. This obviously suited him better, a handicap run at a fast pace, he settled well behind the fast pace.

He raced off a mark of 116 here and, while the handicapper will obviously have his say now, he shouldn’t be too harsh, he only got home by a nose after all. He will be of interest again now in a better race as long as he has similar conditions. Goodish ground and a fast pace appear to be important to him, but he is only four and he has plenty of scope to progress.

27^th April 2017