White Moon

White Moon was unlucky not to win the three-and-a-quarter-mile handicap chase. He was wide enough early on, but he moved and jumped his way through his field on the outside for Robbie Power until he found himself up on the outside of leader Coup De Pinceau. He moved to the front at the top of the home straight and, despite getting in tight to the second last fence, he looked set for victory as he led on the run to the last. He jumped the last fence well too, he just seemed to over-pitch on landing, and he knuckled over. He was unlucky to fall.

It was still a fine run by Colin Tizzard’s horse. He did everything easily through his race, and he probably had plenty of energy left. The winner Wandrin Star finished off his race well, but it is probable that White Moon would have found plenty too. He has always been held in high regard. He was sent off at a relatively short price for the Steel Plate and Sections Novices’ Chase on his chasing bow at Cheltenham last December when he was tight for room at the last fence and came down. He won his beginners’ chase at Exeter on New Year’s Day, but he didn’t really build on that. He had another wind operation during the summer, and Sunday’s run was his first run since he was beaten in a novices’ chase at Kempton at the end of January last season. He goes well on good ground, and he has had two wind operations now in the last two years, but he handled soft ground well over hurdles, so he will remain of interest through the winter. He goes well at Wincanton, he won his maiden hurdle there too, so he could be a horse for the Badger Beers Silver Trophy. He is only seven and he has raced just six times over fences in his life, so he has the potential to progress. The handicapper raised him by 5lb for this fall to a mark of 142, but that is still a mark off which he should be competitive. He has raced just six times in his life over fences too, so he has plenty of scope for progression as a staying chaser.

Wincanton, 27^th October 2019