Jessies Dream

Jessies Dream ran out a really nice winner of the two-and-a-half-mile hurdle that opened proceedings at Punchestown on Thursday. Contrasting tactics were employed by Ruby Walsh on the Presenting gelding, who had made all to land his maiden hurdle on his previous start at Thurles in February. Held up well out the back, he was still no better than eighth jumping the third last, but he made smooth headway from there to move in behind the two leaders, himself and stable companion Uimhiraceathair apparently travelling better than the pair that led them into the home straight, Solstice Knight and Noble Prince, both of whom were well backed. As soon as they straightened up, Jessies Dream showed a nice turn of foot on the soft ground to go between the leading pair and take it up. He bunny-hopped the last, just as he had done at Thurles, but it made no difference to his forward momentum, and he went away to post an impressive win.

This was just Jessies Dream’s second start over hurdles, and there is no telling how much he can progress. He isn’t endowed with bags of speed, but he does gallop and he stays two and a half miles well. He is by Presenting and he was only beaten three lengths by Cousin Vinny in a bumper at Punchestown last February, so there is every chance that he will handle good ground as long as there is enough of a distance of ground to put a premium on stamina. He is only six, he is most progressive, and he could even get further than this two-and-a-half-mile trip.

30th April 2009