Dreamingandhoping

Dreamingandhoping did well to finish as close as she did in third place in the mares’ maiden hurdle that opened proceedings at Galway on Sunday. She was very keen early on behind pace-setter Carrigeen Lotus. She jumped well, but she had to be restrained on landing over a couple of her obstacles in order that she wouldn’t expend too much energy too early. She came under a ride as they raced into the dip as Tucanae challenged Carrigeen Lotus up front, and she could easily have been left behind by that pair. But she responded well to Liam Quinlan’s urgings, she stayed on well over the final flight and up the hill to get to within three lengths of them by the time they reached the winning line. She did well to keep on as strongly as she did, given that she raced keenly early on.

This was a good mares’ maiden hurdle, the first two home are good mares and the front three finished nicely clear of their rivals. Dreamingandhoping kept good company too last season in mares’ bumpers. Declan Queally’s mare got to within two lengths of Bigbadandbeautiful at Navan on her racecourse debut, and she wasn’t beaten that far by Darling Daughter and Politesse in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February. This was her first run since, it was her debut over hurdles. She can be a keen-going sort, she has worn a hood now in each of her last three races, but she jumped well here and she travelled well, and she should be able to improve on this when she learns to settle a little better.

Galway, 25^th October 2020, © Sportinglife.com sportinglife.com, 26th October 2020