Border Breaker

Border Breaker ran a nice race to finish third behind Caulfields Venture and Danandy in the three-mile handicap chase at Exeter on Tuesday.

Held up at the back of the seven-strong field by Michael Heard through the early stages of the race, he travelled nicely over the four fences in the back straight, and moved into a close fifth as they started to turn for home. Still travelling well on the run to the fourth last fence, the first in the home straight, he moved up over the next two fences and moved into second place behind Caulfields Venture on the run to the last. He looked a threat to the winner at that point, but he just couldn’t stay on as well as his rival on the run-in, and he was actually passed by Danandy inside the final 100 yards.

It was still a good run from David Pipe’s horse. It was a good race, the winner probably improved for his first-time visor, replacing cheekpieces, and the winning time was good, just faster than standard. Border Breaker was ridden with more restraint than he had been on his previous attempt at three miles, at Perth four weeks previously, but he still probably didn’t fully get home. He travelled like a likely winner at the second last, but his stamina appeared to ebb on the run-in. He will probably be seen to better effect back down at two and a half miles. He is only six and this was just his fourth run over fences, so he has plenty of scope for progression as a chaser. He goes well on soft ground as well as on this fast ground, and he will be of interest in a similar contest now.

20^th October 2015