C’est Jersey

C’est Jersey put up a really good performance in winning the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday.

A little keen through the very early stages of the race in his first-time blinkers, he settled better when Paul Townend allowed him stride on in front at the fourth flight. He was still nicely clear and travelling well after the second last flight and, while he came under pressure on the run to the last, and got a little tired on the run-in, it never looked likely that he would be caught, and he ran out an impressive winner, three and a half lengths clear of his better-fancied stable companion Battleford in second, who was in turn a length clear of Burgas in third.

This was an impressive performance from Willie Mullins’ horse, he beat the talented Battleford well, and he clocked a fast time, the fastest comparative time of the day, a triple-Grade 1 day. He has always been highly-regarded, so it was disappointing that it took him three attempts before he got off the mark over hurdles. Well beaten in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle on his last run before Wednesday, the blinkers obviously helped him run to his ability. He is only five and this was just his fifth run for Willie Mullins, so he should be able to improve again. There was talk of going chasing with him next season, and he would be an interesting chasing prospect, but he would also be an interesting staying hurdling prospect next season of connections chose to spend another season over hurdles with him.

26^th April 2017