Two For Gold

Two For Gold put up a good performance to finish second to Huntsman Son in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase. Prominent from early, Kim Bailey’s horse led as they left the back straight first time and, although harried by Vinnie The Hoddie up on his outside for much of the race, he wasn’t headed until Huntsman Son got the better of him on the run between the last two fences. He had no response to the turn of foot that the winner showed, but he kept on well enough for David Bass to retain second place from the 2018 Greatwood Hurdle winner Nietzsche, who had gone into the race with race-fitness on his side from the flat.

This was a brave effort by Two For Gold, on his seasonal debut and racing over a trip that was surely shorter than ideal for him. He did win on his chasing debut last season over two and a half miles, but he won a novices’ hurdle over two miles and seven furlongs, and he won the Grade 2 Hampton Novices’ Chase at Warwick last January over three miles on soft ground. He should be better when he steps back up to three miles and when the ground turns even softer. He has plenty of scope for progression, he is only seven and this was just his fifth run over fences, and he will be of interest in some of the good staying handicap chases. He has the potential to go beyond his current mark of 148 this season.

Wetherby, 30^th October 2020