Ernst Blofeld

Ernst Blofeld battled on well to win his beginners’ chase over two and a half miles at Uttoxeter on Friday. Donald McCain’s gelding travelled well and jumped more than adequately on just his second start over fences, with the exception of a mistake at the first fence, when he could easily have come down, and another slight mistake at the fifth last. Kept wide throughout, he was always close up behind Hinton Thunderbolt, he took it up going over the fourth last and kept on well all the way to the line.

A good novice hurdler last season – he was third behind Diamond Harry in a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham last January – the son of Flemensfirth got beaten as a short-priced favourite on his debut over fences in November. That was over three miles on heavy ground, and it may be that it was just too much for him on his seasonal debut. He did win twice over two and a half miles on soft ground over hurdles, and his dam stayed well, even though she is by Dolphin Street, so there is every chance that he will get three miles in time. He is only five, he has raced just seven times under all codes in his life, and he should progress from this.

18th December 2009