Some Present

Some Present got his hurdling career off to a fine start by landing the two-mile maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Thursday. Held up in mid-division the early stages by Davy Russell, the son of Presenting came under pressure after the second last, but he improved nicely on the outside around the home turn to get in just behind the front rank on the run to the last. He continued his progress on the far side to jump the last just a half-length behind the leader Tango Foxtrot, before quickening away impressively on the run-in to win well.

This was just the third run of the Tom Mullins-trained gelding’s life, his first hurdle, and he is a really exciting prospect. He didn’t run again between winning his bumper at Punchestown last October and the Cheltenham Festival, but Mullins still had no qualms about pitching him into the Festival Bumper, where he ran a cracker to finish second to Dunguib. He did finish 10 lengths behind the winner, but he beat everything else in the race, some highly talented rivals, which was a huge effort for one so inexperienced. His jumping was a little novicey on Thursday, especially at the fourth last and third last, but that is to be expected, and that should improve with experience. Also, apparently he wasn’t that wound up for his seasonal debut, so it is probable that there is significant improvement forthcoming. This was a really good maiden hurdle for this time of the season, with a number of sure-fire future winners in opposition, and Some Present beat them well in the end. He is as exciting a recruit to hurdling as we will see in the early part of the season, and he should be well worth following now as he steps up in grade.

15th October, 2009