Fresh Air And Fun

There was a lot to like about Fresh Air And Fun’s performance in landing the three-mile handicap chase at Sandown on Saturday.

Sent to the front by McCoy from early, he wasn’t challenged as hard through the early stages as you might have expected by fellow front-runner Stolen Moments, so he had a relatively easy time of it. His jumping was good in the main, although he was slow at the second last on the first circuit, which caused him to briefly surrender the lead, and he was deliberate at the next, but once McCoy wrested the lead and the rail back, it was all a lot easier. He had all of his rivals in trouble by the time they left the back straight and, although Trigger The Light and Antonius Caesar both closed on the run-in, the leader was almost certainly just getting lonely, pricking his ears and having a look around. He had a fair bit more in hand than the bare winning margin.

The handicapper has put the Trans Island gelding up 7lb for this performance, and that is more than fair. He is still only six, this was just his third steeplechase, and he still showed signs of greenness. There is almost certainly much better to come. He could be one for the three-mile handicap chase at Aintree, where his rating of 122 should get him into the race in the low 10sts, and where the flat track would suit and his front-running style would be seen to best advantage.

© The Irish Field, 14^th March, 2009