Arverne

Arverne did well to finish second to Deadheat in the three-mile handicap chase at Punchestown on Tuesday. Gavin Cromwell’s horse travelled well in rear early on, but he made mistakes at two of the fences down the side of the track, which left him last of the seven runners as they started down the back straight. He jumped better down that part of the track, he travelled up nicely on the outside between the fourth last and third last fences, and he moved up on the outside of Deadheat as they rounded the home turn. He couldn’t get to the winner, who had travelled and jumped well through his race and who ran out a nice winner, but he kept on well to retain the runner-up spot.

This race was weakened by the defection of Chavi Artist, but there was still plenty to like about Arverne’s performance. Deadheat is a progressive horse who had race fitness on his side, he had finished second to Rudy Catrail on his previous run at Listowel, form that was given a nice boost the previous day, while Averne hadn’t run since last March. A winner over hurdles in France, JP McManus’ horse didn’t win in five runs over fences last season, all over two miles, but he probably put up his best chasing performance last season on his last run, when he finished fourth in a novices’ handicap chase at Wexford in March. Out of a half-sister to Theligny, who has won over three miles over fences, he stayed three miles well here and, still only five, he has plenty of potential to progress now over staying distances.

Punchestown, 13^th October 2020, © Sportinglife.com, 19^th October 2020