On A Session

On A Session ran a big race to finish second in the Ahonoora Handicap. Fast away and fairly prominent early on, he got caught in behind horses on the run around the home turn. No better than seventh or eighth as they straightened up for home as leader Laughifuwant kicked for home, he picked up well for Leigh Roche once in the clear, and he stayed on strongly through the final furlong to get to within less than a length of the winner. In so doing, he pulled three and a half lengths clear of the rest of the field. It was a fine performance by Aidan Fogarty’s horse, a mere three-year-old racing for just the eighth time in his life and just the fifth time for his current trainer, and taking on the older horses.

Winner of his first two runs for Matthieu Palussiere in France last year as a juvenile, both races run on easy ground, he ran in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, and he ran in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot this year. He got off the mark in Ireland at Listowel in June, just before Royal Ascot, also on easy ground, when he stayed on well to just get up and win a six-and-a-half-furlong handicap off a mark of 89. He was racing off a mark of 92 on Sunday and, back on easy ground, he probably put up a career-best. He saw out the seven furlongs well and, on this evidence, he might even be worth a try over a mile. The handicapper raised him by 4lb to a mark of 96, and that is a mark off which he will remain of interest, especially when he gets back on easier ground.

Galway, 4^th August 2019