Davids Charm

Davids Charm ran a nice race to finish third in the 1m 7f qualified riders’ maiden. Settled in third place behind a decent pace that Tornado Watch set, he started to come under pressure as they left the back straight, but he moved into second place, up on the outside of the leader as they rounded the home turn. He was quickly passed by Slippery Serpent early in the home straight and relegated to third again, and then briefly to fourth, but he kept on well from the 1f marker, despite the fact that he was a little tight for racing room, to get back up for third place.

It was a fine run by John Joe Walsh’s horse, for whom the Galway Hurdle has surely been a priority for a little while. Winner of a 2m 5f handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival last year, he was a little unlucky not to win at Listowel in September, when he was beaten a neck by this year’s Ascot Stakes winner Lagostovegas, and he stepped forward from that to win a valuable handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse’s Hatton’s Grace Hurdle meeting in December off a mark of 134. He has been raised to a hurdles mark of 144, but he was seriously progressive going into that Fairyhouse race, he won with plenty in hand, and there is every reason to expect that he can improve again.

He returned on the flat at Ballinrobe in late June, and this was his second run back. It should bring him forward again, and he will be of interest in the Galway Hurdle.

Leopardstown, 12^th July 2018