Ificudiwud

Ificudiwud only finished fifth in the end in the two-mile-six-furlong beginners’ chase at Limerick on Sunday, beaten a total of 22 lengths, but he ran a fair bit better than the bare form suggests. Prominent from early, he moved into a definite lead as they jumped the second last fence in the home straight first time. He settled into a nice rhythm for Sean Flanagan after that, and his jumping down the back straight was good. He was good when he was long and he was able to go in and pop when he was short. He made a mistake at the third last fence as he tired, and he ceded the lead to Run Wild Fred as they straightened up for home. He tired from there, but they had gone hard from early, as evidenced by the fact that Run Wild Fred, who had also raced handily, was passed by Home By The Lee and Ministerforsport on the run-in.

Ificudiwud was one of four runners in this beginners’ chase who were having their first run over fences on their respective seasonal debuts, so it will be interesting to see how they all progress from here. Noel Meade’s horse hadn’t run since he unseated his rider after the final flight in a handicap hurdle at Naas in March. That was just his second run last spring, he was a progressive hurdler in the summer of 2019 on summer ground, but he won his maiden hurdle on soft ground and he won a handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse last February on heavy, so he should handle winter ground well. Rated 123 over hurdles, he won his only point-to-point and he jumped his fences well here, so he has the potential to go even higher over fences. He could improve too for a step up to three miles.

Limerick, 11^th October 2020

© Sportinglife.com, 12^th October 2020