Politesse

Politesse only finished fifth in the Grade 3 mares’ novices’ hurdle at Down Royal on Friday, but she ran better than her finishing position suggests.

Settled in fourth place early on by Conor Orr behind a good pace that Kitty Galore set, she travelled well and her jumping was good in general. She made a slight mistake at the fourth last flight, but she was quickly back into her racing rhythm, and travelling well up on the outside of the leaders. She jumped the third last flight in a dispute of the lead with Queens Brook, and she travelled better than that rival, better than all her rivals, down the hill to the second last flight. She landed over that obstacle with a slender advantage, but she got in tight to the final flight, and she just tired on the run-in, losing three places in the final 150 yards.

They went fast here, and they started racing early, as evidenced by the fact that the winner Skyace was last of the main body of the field from early, and appeared to be struggling on landing over the fourth last flight, and that The Getaway Star, a detached last for much of the race, stayed on to finish a close-up fourth. This was Politesse’s seasonal debut, it was her first run since last March, and it is probable that that, combined with the fast pace, took its toll late on.

Second in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival last February, Lorna Fowler’s mare was an impressive winner of her bumper at Thurles later that month, and she was good too in winning her maiden hurdle back at Thurles in March. This was her first run since, it was her fifth race ever and just her second over hurdles. She should be able to build on this now and, a three-parts sister to Lexus Chase winner and Gold Cup third Don Poli, she could do even better if and when she steps up in trip.

Down Royal, 30^th October 2020, © Sportinglife.com, 2nd November 2020