Surrounding

Surrounding ran well on her comeback run to finish second to Speak In Colours in the Ballycorus Stakes. She was well away, but she was restrained in behind runners by Ross Coakley, back in fifth place behind Gustavus Weston. She travelled well through her race, if a little keenly, and she picked up in the home straight when he rider asked her to. She couldn’t match Speak In Colours’ impressive finishing kick on the far side, but she stayed on well to get up for second place just in front of Gustavus Weston.

Surrounding is seven now but, on this evidence, she retains all of her ability. This was her first run since she returned form Dubai in the spring and, in common with a lot of the Michael Halford horses, she should come on for this run, her first run after a break. She progressed throughout last season, winning four of her nine races and only once finishing outside the first three. She does go well at Fairyhouse, she was two for two at the track going into this race, but she also goes well at The Curragh and Galway and Dundalk and Naas, and she will be of interest wherever she goes next. She is probably at her best on good ground, and she is equally adept over seven furlongs and a mile.

Fairyhouse, 5^th July 2020