Dressedtothenines

There was a lot to like about the way Dressedtothenines won the Grade 2 two-and-a-half-mile novices’ hurdle at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday. She was very strong in the market beforehand, even though Zaidpour was rated 20lb superior to her going into the race, and she beat him well. Conversely, Zaidpour was admittedly a little weak in the market, but there can be no denying Dressedtothenines’ superiority on the day.

The Eddie Harty-trained mare travelled well in the hands of AP McCoy on the outside of the front-running Si C’Etait Vrai, she picked up well when AP gave her a squeeze around the home run and she quickened again when Zaidpour pressed her after the second last flight. She had to fend off a persistent challenge from Zaidpour but, in the end, she was well on top and was drawing away close home, with the pair of them clear of Si C’Etait Vrai and Noble Prince.

JP McManus’ mare has now won her last three, she is improving all the time. She is only six, this was just the 10th race of her life, and she should be able to carry on progressing. This better ground seemed to suit her well.

She had given Annie Power a race at Clonmel in February over a trip and on ground that probably weren’t ideal, and that form is obviously much stronger now than it looked at the time. Also, Dressedtothenines has improved significantly since then.

Her trainer said after this race that she may go chasing next season, and she would be an exciting novice chaser, but it would be interesting to see how far she could go if she was kept hurdling. All going well, there could be much more to come from her under either code.

1st April 2013