Nordic Passage

Nordic Passage did well to get as close as he did in the Listed Abergwaun Stakes at Navan on Saturday. Slowly away, he was fully three lengths behind the second last horse before they had gone 100 yards. Niggled along at that point by Donagh O’Connor, he was always playing catch-up, he was still last of the nine runners as they raced to the furlong marker. He finished off his race really strongly though, he made good progress through the final furlong to take fourth place behind Make A Challenge and Urban Beat, beaten less than three lengths, closest at the finish.

Johnny Levins’ horse won over seven furlongs on his racecourse debut two years ago when he was with John Gosden, and he won over a mile at Dundalk last winter for Levins, but he has found his metier since his trainer has sent him sprinting. He won over five furlongs at Naas off a mark of 75 on the day that racing resumed in early June, and he won over six furlongs at The Curragh in early July off a mark of 85, and he won back at The Curragh in late July over five furlongs off a mark of 91. He is rated 95 now, but there could still be a good sprint handicap in him off that type of mark. He goes well at The Curragh, and the Bold Lad Sprint Premier Handicap there on Irish Champions Weekend would be a good target for him.

Navan, 29^th August 2020

© Sportinglife.com, 31st August 2020