Gas Line Boy

It is a pity that Gas Line Boy fell when he did in the Peter Marsh Chase at Haydock on Saturday. He was travelling really well, he bowling along happily in front, still on the bridle, when he came down at the last fence in the back straight.

Of course, that was very far out, it is impossible to know how he would have fared. And the race turned into a bit of a war off attrition, with Cloudy Too handling conditions really well and staying on well after he had been left in front. That said, Gas Line Boy he is a horse who runs on well for pressure, as he proved when he won a three-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Haydock on heavy ground in November 2014, and it appeared that he was travelling at least as well as the two horses who were chasing him, Cloudy Too and Virak. Those two horses finished first and second, nothing could get into the race from the rear, so it is reasonable to assume that Gas Line Boy would have been at least close to them.

This was Gas Line Boy’s seasonal debut, his first run since he fell at the first fence in the Grand National in April, and his last completed race was the Grand National Trial at Haydock last February, when he finished fourth behind Lie Forrit.

He has won twice at Exeter on good to soft ground, but he goes really well at Haydock and on soft ground, so he will be of interest if and when he returns to Lancashire, he would be of interest again in the Grand National Trial. The handicapper left him on his mark of 140, which is 7lb lower than his peak, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.

23^rd January 2016