Ridestan

Ridestan battled on well to win the 2m novice chase at Gowran Park on Saturday. Always travelling well, David Mullins allowed him ease to the front at the second last fence. He looked set to record an easy victory there, but he got the last fence wrong, and he looked set to be overhauled by Neverushacon, but he battled back really well and got back up to win by a short head.

He is value for more than that, he travelled like the best horse in the race by a fair way, and the winning margin probably does not do justice to the margin of his superiority. Also, the front two were nicely clear of their rivals. He will do better held onto for longer, and trainer Henry de Bromhead says that he will be even better on better ground or on looser ground, away from this tacky ground.

Rated 126 over hurdles when with Denis Hogan, he shapes like he will be a better chaser. He jumps his fences so well that it would not be surprising were he to rate a fair bit higher over fences. His trainer mentioned the Craddockstown Chase as a possible next step, and that is a race in which de Bromhead has done well in the past. Ridestan will be of interest if he lines up in that, but it is also worth keeping in the back of your mind for handicaps later in the season. He travels so well that strongly-run handicaps could suit him well.

1^st October 2016