Honest John

You won’t often find me scouring Class 4 novice hurdles at Catterick for pointers to the future, but it was well worthwhile tuning in to watch Honest John versus Gee Dee Nen at the Yorkshire track last Friday. It always looked like the step up in trip to an extended three miles would suit Honest John, and so it proved. Always handy, he took up the running as they exited the back straight on the first circuit. He was pursued by Gee Dee Nen as they left the back straight on the final circuit, and it looked like Graham Lee had plenty up his sleeve on the pursuer, but Honest John just kept on finding as Keith Mercer asked him, and he pulled away again to win cosily in the end.

Gee Dee Nen is a useful recruit to hurdling from the flat, boasting a rating of 93 in that sphere, and he was well fancied here. But Honest John beat him well, and the pair pulled well clear of their field. Honest John has only just turned five, and this was just his third start over hurdles, but he has a wholly likeable attitude and he should continue to progress. He is an athletic individual who jumps his hurdles well, and he would not be at all out of place in the line up for the Albert Bartlett Hurdle at Cheltenham.

16^th January, 2009