Wymott

Wymott was most impressive in making a successful chasing bow in a really good two-and-a-half-mile beginners’ chase at Bangor on Wednesday. Sent to the front from flagfall by Jason Maguire, his jumping was efficient and accurate, and he had all of his rivals in trouble on the run to the second last. He jumped the last two fences as well as he had jumped the previous 13, ears pricked, and he cleared away on the run-in to win readily.

This was a really good beginners’ chase. Alfie Sherrin was a really progressive staying hurdler last season and was sent off the 11/4 favourite for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival, Tarablaze was one of the top staying novice hurdlers two seasons ago, a Grade 2 winner, achieving a rating of 140 in just four runs, and he was well-fancied and well-backed for this, his debut over fences and his first run since February 2009, while Silver Kate was also a progressive novice hurdler last season, achieving a rating of 145 at her peak, and Wymott beat them all well.

The Donald McCain-trained gelding himself was an exciting novice hurdler last season, winning twice and finishing second twice in four runs. It was his latest run over the smaller obstacles that set him apart as a horse of some potential, however, when he beat Wayward Prince by a length in the Grade 2 Prestige Hurdle at Haydock in February. He drew clear of his rivals from the third last that day before he idled, leaving the impression that he was value for a fair bit more than the winning margin. That form received a timely boost when Wayward Prince came out and won the Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle at Aintree on his subsequent start, and that Ian Williams-trained gelding has looked impressive in winning his novices’ chaser already this term.

Wymott could progress now to take him place among the very best staying novice chasers this season. He is only six, he has run just eight times in his life (he has only once been out of the first two), he jumped his fences well here and he showed a really good attitude. He obviously handles this easy ground well, but he won a bumper on good ground. He should improve for stepping up to three miles, and he could be very good indeed.

10th November 2010

© The Irish Field, 13th November 2010