Dolphin Square

Dolphin Square did well to finish fourth in the three-mile handicap hurdle. Philip Hobbs’ horse came from the rear and wide in a race in which the pace held up well. Also, he was rushed up a little down the back straight, and he raced on the near side up the home straight. The winner and third, Champers On Ice and Vive Le Roi, raced in first and second places from early, and they raced towards the far side for most of the home straight.

It was a good performance by Dolphin Square He can probably be marked up at least a little on the bare form of the run, and the form was enhanced by the winner, who ran well next time to finish third in a good handicap hurdle at Cheltenham’s December meeting next time off a 3lb higher mark. Dolphin Square is only five, and this was just his sixth run over hurdles, so he has plenty of potential to progress further as a staying hurdler. Winner of a point-to-point, he ran well over two miles and seven furlongs at Worcester on his debut this season, and he saw the three miles out here all right. He could go chasing, but there could be a good staying handicap hurdle in him now off his mark of 132, just 1lb higher than the mark off which he raced here.

Newbury, 29^th November 2019