12-Sept-2009

On his (Santo Padre’s) penultimate run he won a good handicap at Tipperary. He raced on the far rail that day, when it appeared to be an advantage to race up the centre, and he showed a smart turn of foot to settle the issue and then held on by a neck in a time that was a half a second faster than the time that Perfect Polly clocked in winning the listed race over the same course and distance on the same day. On his latest run at Down Royal, off a 6lb higher mark, he stuck on well to get the better of a head bob with Jim Bolger’s useful filly Sioduil. He races off a 5lb higher mark today, but he is most progressive now and that should be fine. On a line through Just For Mary, he actually doesn’t have that much to find with Pavershooz. All his recent improved form has been on soft ground, but David Marnane maintains that he will be better on better ground.

SANTO PADRE WON (ADV 20/1, SP 14/1)