Speak Easy

Speak Easy ran well to finish third in the two-mile-five-furlong beginners’ chase won by Ronald Pump on his first run on his first run for over a year and a half. Settled just behind the leaders from early by Mark Walsh, Joseph O’Brien’s horse travelled well throughout. He travelled well around the inside on the run around the home turn and, while Ronald Pump came away from him, he did keep on past Galvin and Bapaume, and was just caught by Captain Cj close home for the runner-up spot.

This was a really encouraging return to action by JP McManus’ horse. The winner won well, but he has been supplemented to the Grade 1 Drinmore Chase on Sunday, and Speak Easy kept on well behind him. He missed all of last season, but he was a talented novice hurdler two seasons ago, he finished fifth in the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas Hurdle and he finished third behind Hardline in a Grade 2 race at Naas, and he finished second behind Agent Boru in a valuable novices’ handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse. Winner of his only point-to-point, he jumped his fences well here, and he should be able to move on from this. He will be interesting now in another beginners’ chase and, rated 137 over hurdles, and he would be interesting in a handicap chase off that sort of mark.

Fairyhouse, 12^th November 2019