Bold Sir Brian

Bold Sir Brian continued his progress over fences in winning the Future Stars Intermediate Chase at Sandown on Friday, the first time he had raced over three miles.

Settled in last of the four runners by Peter Buchanan, he had to be briefly squeezed along early on, but his rider never looked overly concerned. His jumping can be a little chancy on occasions, he was in tight to each of the first three fences down the back straight second time, he hit the first of the Railway Fences and he was down on his nose at the last of them, but he can be very good when he meets one on a stride. Those errors didn’t stem his momentum and he continued to travel strongly as they turned out of the back straight. Indeed, stamina is his forte and he came right away from the second last fence. What was particularly impressive was how, having got in too tight to the second last fence, and having allowed Pacha Du Polder back alongside him, he then quickly drew clear without his rider really having to ask him.

This may not have been the strongest of races but Pacha Du Polder is really well regarded by Paul Nicholls and he was expected to improve for the step up to three miles too. Also, while the third horse, Triolo D’Alene, is certainly no star, he is a solid 136-rated horse and both he and Pacha Du Polder were comprehensively brushed aside.

Jumping around Sandown will have done Bold Sir Brian’s confidence no harm at all, he should have learned something from this, and his jockey said afterwards that the steady pace wasn’t helping with his jumping. Now that Lucinda Russell’s gelding has proved he stays three miles no problem (and he should have no problem staying slightly further) there are a lot of options open to him, and he could become a high-class staying chaser. He is only six, he has huge scope for progression as a staying chaser, and he will be of interest, potentially at a big price, if his trainer does allow him to take his chance in a Grade 1 race this season.

7th December 2012