Chain Of Command

Chain Of Command put up a nice performance to win the two-mile novices’ hurdle at Hereford on Sunday. It was only a Class 4 event, but it was a decent little contest for all of that, the pace was strong and the time was good, the fastest comparative time of the day and just 0.11secs/furlong outside Racing Post par. A little free in the early stages for Noel Fehily, Malcolm Denmark’s gelding settled in fifth place at the head of the group that chased the leading quartet, who engineered a break for themselves over the rest of the field, but he made really nice progress at the top of the course towards the second last. The well-fancied Bold Addition travelled well in front at that point, but he got the second last a little wrong, and Chain Of Command was able to sit in behind him, travelling better, around the home turn before quickening nicely on the far side to take it up at the last and go away to win nicely.

This was just Chain Of Command’s third ever run, and his first over hurdles. He shaped well to finish second when well fancied for a Uttoxeter bumper on his racecourse debut in October, when he and the winner Red Not Blue finished well clear of the rest, and then reversed form with the winner when running respectably in the bumper won by Ghizao at the Cheltenham November meeting, probably the hottest bumper run in the UK this season to date. Noel Fehily said after Sunday’s race that he felt a little flat, so he could prove to be much better than this. He should progress from this anyway, he is only six, and he jumps hurdles well. It will be interesting to see where he goes next.

13th December 2009