Third Wind

Third Wind ran better than the bare form of his run suggests on his seasonal debut in finishing fifth in the Pertemps Qualifier. Weak enough in the pre-race market, he travelled nicely through his race for Tom O’Brien in midfield behind a moderate pace. He got shuffled back a little on the run out of the back straight, but he travelled well into the home straight, he picked up well on the near side, and it looked like he was going to be involved in the finish. His run just flattened out after that, and he just kept on without progressing further, finishing fifth in the end, just over four lengths behind the winner Dell’ Arca, with the first five clear.

It was an encouraging run by Hughie Morrison’s horse on his seasonal debut. It was his first run since he ran a big race in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham in March, when he did best of the British runners, and when he did well to come from the rear of the field to reach the placings, in a race in which the pace held up well. The handicapper left him on his mark of 141 after that, which was fair, and it is a mark off which he will be of interest in good staying handicap hurdles this term. He is only six, and this was just his seventh run over hurdles, so he still has potential to progress. He is qualified already now for the Pertemps Final, and it wouldn’t be surprising if that race was again his target, although he does hold an entry in the Betfair Exchange Handicap Hurdle at Haydock on Betfair Chase day, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that.

Newbury, 5^th November 2020