Sizing Rome

Sizing Rome ran a good race to finish fourth in the Cork Grand National. Racing from 4lb out of the handicap, Jim Dreaper’s horse travelled well in mid-division for Conor Orr. He moved threateningly just behind the leaders as they left the back straight, but he made a mistake at the cross fence, which wasn’t ideal. It left him a little further back than ideal when they turned for home. But he stayed on well for pressure.

Slightly hampered when Minella Beau fell beside him at the third last fence, he was hampered again a little by Velocity Boy’s fall at the second last. But he got racing room after that, and he kept on to finish fourth behind Out Sam.

Winner of a hunter chase at Down Royal last May, the Milan gelding had been impressive on his previous run when he won an amateur riders’ handicap chase at Punchestown by nine lengths under Jamie Codd in first-time cheekpieces. He wore the cheekpieces again on Sunday, and he probably stepped forward again. He is only six and this was just his fifth run in a handicap chase, so he has lots of scope for further progression as a staying chaser. His trainer says that he probably doesn’t want the ground to be too soft, so it may be that he is a horse to keep in mind for the spring.

Cork, 4^th November 2018