J’y Vole

J’y Vole put in a huge performance to finish third behind Albertas Run and Poquelin in the Ryanair Chase. Settled in last place by Davy Condon over the first couple of fences, the Willie Mullins-trained mare jumped to her right down at a couple of fences down the back straight, but she was still bang in contention travelling well at the top of the hill. She got involved in a little bit of scrimaging with Poquelin on the run around the home turn, and the pair collided again on landing over the second last, none of which would have helped, but she still stayed on gallantly up the hill to finish third, four lengths behind Albertas Run but just a nose behind Poquelin.

This was a high class effort from a mare who is at her best on a right-handed track when there is ease in the ground, none of which she had in her favour in the Ryanair Chase. Even so, this was probably a career-best from the Mansonnien mare, who beat Big Zeb in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown in February 2008 as a novice. She seems to be re-discovering that sort of form now, and she will be a potent force at right-handed Punchestown, especially if the ground comes up on the easy side.

18th March 2010

© The Sunday Times, 28th March 2010