Landofhopeandglory

Landofhopeandglory ran well to finish fifth in the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase over 2m 5f.  Settled into a nice racing rhythm early on by Luke Dempsey, he made nice progress down the back straight.  Eighth of the leading group of eight as they turned for home, he appeared to get a little out-paced when the leaders quickened at the third last fence, and he was slightly hampered at the second last, but he stayed on really well over the final fence and up the run-in to take fifth place, beaten less than six lengths by the winner Westerner Point.

Joseph O’Brien’s horse was a classy horse on the flat for Aidan O’Brien.  He finished a close-up fourth in the Lingfield Derby Trial, and he finished second behind his stable companion Sword Fighter in the Curragh Cup and fourth behind him in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot.  He won his first three races as a juvenile hurdler, and he didn’t run badly in finishing fifth in Defi Du Seuil’s Triumph Hurdle.  Winner of a Grade 3 novices’ chase at Roscommon early last season, he didn’t really build on that through the season, and he was well beaten on his debut this term in De Name Escapes Me’s handicap chase at Navan in early December.  This was much more encouraging though, and there is every chance that he can build on it.  The handicapper left him on his chase mark of 130 after this, which is well below his hurdles mark, and he could do better when he gets back on some better ground.  His three best runs over hurdles were on goodish ground.

Limerick, 27^th December 2018