A Wave Of The Sea

A Wave Of The Sea stepped forward again in winning the juvenile hurdle.  The race may not have taken as much winning as it looked like it might beforehand, with favourite Saint D’Oroux performing below expectations, but there was a lot to like about the authority with which A Wave Of The Sea won.  Joseph O’Brien’s horse travelled nicely in second place for J J Slevin behind leader Leahman.  He moved up well as they raced around the turn at the top of the track to lead and, while he was a little awkward over the third last and second last flights, he came clear on the run to the last, where he was better, and he stayed on strongly all the way to the line.  The winning time was good too, it was over seven seconds faster than the time that Envoi Allen clocked in winning the maiden hurdle, and it was over four seconds faster than the time that Janidil clocked in winning the handicap hurdle.

An 82-rated horse on the flat after just five runs, the Born To Sea gelding was a little unlucky not to win on his hurdling bow at Listowel in September, but he rallied well next time at Punchestown after making a mistake at the last to get back up and get home by a neck from his stable companion Cerberus, who won well at Fairyhouse last week, the pair of them clear of Laura Bullion.

This was another step up on that.  He is progressing with experience, he should progress again as his jumping becomes even more fluent, and he proved here that he could handle soft ground.  This race has been won in the last three years by Coeur Sublime (Triumph Hurdle runner-up), Espoir D’Allen (Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle winner and Champion Hurdle winner) and Mega Fortune (Spring Juvenile Hurdle winner and Triumph Hurdle runner-up) and A Wave Of The Sea has the potential to progress to take a high rank among the juvenile hurdlers this season.

Down Royal, 2^nd November 2019