Foryourinformation

Foryourinformation put up a nice performance to win the two-and-a-half-mile novices’ hurdle at Bangor on Saturday. Settled in second place behind the early leader Go Conquer through the early stages of the race, Paul Townend allowed him stride on at the third last flight. Still on the bridle on the run to the second last, he jumped that flight well and eased clear. He jumped the last well and came away from runner-up A Vos Gardes under just a hands-and-heels ride, the pair of them pulling miles clear of Go Conquer in third.

This was a useful performance from Rebecca Curtis’ horse. He travelled through the race like a horse who was competing in a grade below his class, and he won nicely without engaging top gear.

The runner-up, A Vos Gardes, is a progressive novice. He had won three of his five previous races, he had finished third behind Supreme Novices’ Hurdle horse Some Plan at Southwell in November and he had finished second behind the talented Different Gravey in a listed race at Huntingdon on his last run before Saturday. He went into the race on a rating of 138, Foryourinformation went into it rated just 131, yet he won well in a decent time.

The handicapper raised Foryourinformation by a stone for this, which is in no way lenient on the face of it, he could hardly have given him any more. However, if you assume that the 138-rated A Vos Gardes ran his race – and it is probable that he actually took a step forward – it is difficult to argue with a new mark of 145, 7lb higher than the runner-up’s. Also, this was just the Kayf Tara gelding’s fifth run over hurdles, and he is only six, so he still has plenty of potential for progression. He handles soft and heavy ground well, but he was encountering good to soft ground for the first time on Saturday, and he appeared to improve for it. He stays this two and a half miles well and, with plenty of stamina in his pedigree, he should get further.

21st March 2015