Hinton Thunderbolt

Hinton Thunderbolt was the one to take out of the two-and-a-half-mile beginners’ chase at Uttoxeter last Friday for me. Having his first run since he won a novices’ hurdle at Plumpton in March 2008, and his first ever over fences, Venetia Williams’s gelding was sent to the front from flagfall by Aidan Coleman. There was a lot to like about the way in which he measured his fences, ears pricked going into each one, and he negotiated them all fairly effortlessly, except for a mistake at the sixth last. Ernst Blofeld tackled him early in the home straight, and looked set to go on and record an easy victory, but Hinton Thunderboly stuck with him well, and only really wilted on the approach to the second last.

Hinton Thunderbolt is seven years old now, but this was just his fifth ever race. He has obviously had his problems, but he won two of his four races over hurdles two seasons ago, and he shaped here as if he would prove to be even better over fences. He should come on for this run, he should be able to win his beginners’ chase very soon and he could be a useful staying novice for later in the season.

18th December 2009