Glenquest

The Terence O’Brien-trained Glenquest stayed on really well really nicely to finish a close-up fifth behind Got Attitude and Wise Old Owl in the two-mile-six-furlong handicap chase at Galway on Monday. He travelled and jumped well through the early stages of the race, and he was still travelling well down the far side final time when he just allowed the leaders get away from him a little between the fourth last and third last fences. After that, he was always playing catch-up, but he stayed on really well over the final two fences and up the run-in under really just a hands-and-heels ride from Kevin Coleman to be closest at the finish. He was only fifth, but he was beaten just a half a length and a head for third place.

This was Glenquest’s seasonal debut, his first run since last March, and it was a hugely encouraging run. A progressive staying chaser last season, he was well fancied for the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas after winning well at Navan in early December, but he made his ground up quite quickly at the end of the back straight in that Leopardstown contest before making a mistake at the third last and fading. He ran twice after that last season, once in a handicap hurdle over an inadequate two miles, and he rounded up by running in a handicap chase back at Navan, when he unseated his rider before the race had begun in earnest. He is still only seven, he has raced in just eight chases, and there is a great chance that his current handicap mark of 116 – 1lb lower than the mark off which he raced in the Paddy Power – under-estimates his ability by a fair way. There could be a big staying handicap chase in him off that rating.

The Troytown Chase at Navan on 21st November looks like an ideal target. He handles soft ground well, as befits a son of Turtle Island, he stays the trip, he has won over the course and distance, and his rating should see him get into the race towards the bottom of the weights.

25th October 2010

© The Irish Field, 30th October 2010