Colonel Mustard

Colonel Mustard ultimately couldn’t go with Ballyadam when he quickened from the second last flight in the two-mile maiden hurdle at Down Royal on Saturday, but he still ran a fine race to finish second to Gordon Elliott’s horse.

Settled in third place behind Still Standing and Ballyadam early on, Colonel Mustard was a little keener than ideal through the early stages of the race. He was a little novicey in his jumping too on occasion, but he still travelled well to the top of the track with three to jump. He got in a little tight to the third last, which allowed Still Standing and Ballyadam get away from him a little, but he made up the ground fairly easily and he travelled well in Ballyadam’s slipstream to the second last flight. Again, he got in tight to that obstacle, and Ballyadam zipped away. It didn’t make any material difference to the result, the winner was very impressive, but Colonel Mustard kept on well to finish a clear second, well clear of bumper winner and point-to-point winner Hes A Hardy Bloke in third.

There is no knowing how good Ballyadam could be, but the passage of time may show that this was a fair run by Colonel Mustard to chase him home. Ballyadam’s stable companion Envoi Allen won this race last year, and we know what he went on to do afterwards, but Front View and Entoucas finished second and third respectively in last year’s renewal, and they both progressed through the season to reach ratings of 135.

Second on his racecourse debut at Killarney in August to a good mare of Willie Mullins, Purple Mountain, who has since run out an impressive winner of a listed mares’ bumper, Colonel Mustard was impressive himself in winning his own bumper at Punchestown in late September, when the front two finished clear. From the family of St Leger winner Masked Marvel, Lorna Fowler’s horse is a talented individual, and he should continue to progress over hurdles as he gains experience.

Punchestown, 31^st October 2020, © Sportinglife.com, 2nd November 2020