No Buts

No Buts put up a really nice performance to win a good two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Newbury on Friday.

David Bridgwater’s horse settled into a nice rhythm for Tom Scudamore early on, just behind the leader Loose Chips, and his jumping was good throughout. Jumping into the lead at the fifth last fence, the cross fence, he travelled well in front, he travelled well to the third last fence as all his rivals came under pressure. A mistake at the second last by his closest pursuer Pendra was no hindrance, but he put distance between himself and his rivals on the run to the last, and he stayed on nicely up the run-in to win well.

Noted in HTF Private when he finished fourth behind Sound Investment at Sandown on his debut this season, the Kayf Tara gelding just continues to progress. He was ridden a little more patiently here than he had been at Sandown, and he seemed to appreciate that, but there was a lot to like about the turn of foot that he showed after the second last fence. This two and a half miles appears to be his optimum trip for now, although he could get further in time, and he handles this soft ground well.

The handicapper has raised him 10lb to a mark of 140, but a hike of that magnitude was to be expected. He is only six and this was just his seventh run over fences, so he still has lots of scope for progression. He holds an entry in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham in mid-December, and he will be of interest if he takes his chance in that. If top weight Johns Spirit stands his ground, he would have just 10st 6lb to carry in that race, and that would be a really nice racing weight.

28th November 2014