Luc Jordan

I am not usually one for Class 4 handicaps at Kempton on a Wednesday night, but Luc Jordan is worth noting after he won a 10-furlong contest last Wednesday. Steadied out the back by Kieren Fallon, he was actually second last of the 11 runners passing the winning post first time, he had to make his ground on the outside of the entire field, five horse-widths off the rail, as they rounded the home turn. Once Fallon began to stoke him up, however, his progress down the home straight was impressive and, despite getting a slight bump a furlong and a half out, he continued his progress all the way to the line to win cosily in the end from Veroon, who continues to progress for racing, in a decent time.

Unraced last year as a juvenile, this was Luc Jordan’s second win on the bounce since he was stepped up again in trip from seven furlongs. He won his maiden at Wolverhampton at the start of September, staying on well over nine furlongs, and he improved again here for stepping up again to 10 furlongs and appearing to thrive off the fast pace. Trainer Luca Cumani’s horses were going through a quiet enough spell in July and August when Luc Jordan was a beaten favourite twice, when he was probably racing over the wrong distance of seven furlongs anyway. He is a son on Intikhab out of a Sadler’s Wells mare who was placed over a mile and six furlongs. This 10-furlong trip looks right for him now, although it wouldn’t be at all surprising if he got a mile and a half. The handicapper shouldn’t be too harsh for this performance, he is progressive, and he should be worth following.

23rd September 2009