Global Citizen

Global Citizen ran well in the Arkle. Held up early on, he was keener than ideal through the early stages of the race. He was hampered a little at the fifth last fence and, last as they landed over that fence, he was hampered quite badly at the fourth last when Maire Banrigh fell in front of him. That left him in eighth place and pushed along as they started down the hill, so he did very well to get back into a challenging position as they raced to the home turn, travelling well just behind the leaders. He moved into third place behind Put The Kettle On and Fakir D’Oudairies as they rounded the home turn, but he had done a lot of running just to get there, and he just tired from the second last fence, just giving best to Rouge Vif for third place.

It was still a fine run by Ben Pauling’s horse. Weak in the market, he didn’t have the run of the race at all, the winner and the runner-up were both handy from early too, and he did really well to get as close as he did. Also, he is usually a prominent racer, and he is at his best on better ground. He is eight years old, but this was just his third run over fences, so he could improve again over fences next term. He beat Rouge Vif in the Wayward Lad Chase at Kempton last Christmas, and he also ran well in the Christmas Hurdle there in December 2018, so he will be of interest when he goes back to Kempton. He has also won a Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock, and he won the Gerry Feilden Hurdle at Newbury, so it is probable that he will be seen to even greater effect back on a flat track. He should be better too back on better ground, and ridden prominently again.

Cheltenham 10^th March, 2020