Nicanor

Nicanor ran a cracker to finish fourth in the Grade 3 two-and-a-half-mile hurdle at Fairyhouse on Monday on just his second run, and his first run over hurdles, since he won the Grade 1 Champion Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown in April 2006.

Held up out the back in the early stages, he made nice progress around the home turn and up the home straight. He was actually in with a real chance of winning the race going to the last, but a mistake there ended his winning chance, and Denis O’Regan was not hard on him on the run-in.

It was significant that Paul Carberry chose to ride the enigmatic Aitmatov in the race instead of Nicanor. It is probable that the son of Garde Royale was expected to improve for this run, and it would be surprising if there was not significant progress forthcoming. Hopefully he will stay sound now, because there is no doubting his talent. He will probably run in a hurdle race now at Punchestown in order to preserve his novice status over fences for next year. It is a pity that there is not a Grade 1 two-and-a-half-mile hurdle race for him at Punchestown, but he would be an interesting contender in the World Series Hurdle over three miles if he were to take in chance in that. However he fares there, he is a really exciting novice chaser for next season.

13th April 2009