Clondaw Cian

Clondaw Cian put up a game performance to win the two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on Saturday.

Settled nicely in mid-division by Sean Bowen, he made nice headway towards the outside on the run down the hill to the second last flight. Moved to the stands rail as they straightened up, he moved through impressively to join Solatentif at the final flight, and he stayed on impressively up the hill to pull three and a half lengths clear of his rivals.

It was an impressive performance, and one which may not get the recognition that it deserves. It was a competitive race, Suzy Smith’s horse won it well in the end, and he clocked a good time, 0.1sces/furlong faster than Racing Post par. As well as that, it was his seasonal debut, so he is entitled to progress from it.

The handicapper raised him 8lb for this, but that brings him up to a mark of 138, which is just 3lb higher than his peak rating last season. He was progressive last term, he won a bumper and his first run over hurdles, before disappointing a little when finishing just fourth behind Label Des Obeaux in a Grade 2 novices’ contest at Sandown in December. His season didn’t really get back on track after that.

This was much more like it, and he could build on this now. He is only six and this was just his sixth run over hurdles, so he has plenty of scope for further progression. Winner of his point-to-point and from the family of Addington Boy, it could also be worth trying him over further. His trainer was talking about a Pertemps qualifier, and that is a legitimate route to have a look at now.

12^th November 2016