Hold Em

Hold Em didn’t jump at all well in a competitive two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day. He had only run four times over fences before this and, although he had run in several point-to-points in Ireland, it may have all been a bit much for him, as he had to jump in amongst horses. It was very different to anything he had experienced before on the track, his four previous starts all being against fellow novices, all against exactly five rivals and all on flat tracks. He may be better now returned to a flat track, but he remains potentially really well handicapped on a mark of 134. He is deserving of another chance.

1^st January, 2009