Snugsborough Hall

Snugsborough Hall put up a good performance to finish second to Se Mo Laoch in the 3m 1f handicap chase. Always travelling well for Denis O’Regan, he sneaked through on the inside on the run to the third last fence and, when he jumped that fence in front and moved easily into a 2l lead as they rounded the home turn, he looked the most likely winner by a fair way. In the end, he was worn down by the winner, but he did run all the way to the line, and the first two had it between them from the top of the home straight.

Liam Cusack’s horse is only seven and this was just his fourth chase and his first handicap chase, so he should progress again. Also this was the longest distance over which he had ever raced under Rules, so a slight drop back down in trip might suit him a little better. He goes well on this goodish ground, but he also handies soft. The handicapper raised him by 4lb to a mark of 116, but that is just 1lb higher than his hurdles mark, so it is a workable mark for him. He finished a close-up third behind Mind’s Eye in a novices’ handicap hurdle on soft ground at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival last year, and he will be of interest if he goes for a handicap chase at Leopardstown this year.

Punchestown, 9^th December 2018