Steal A March

Steal A March did well to finish third in the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle. Back in the field from early and four wide throughout, he was hampered a little when The Eaglehaslanded fell in front of him at the fourth last flight. That incident took him from mid-division to the rear of the field, and it caused him to lost at least a little momentum. Rider Jack Tudor gave him time to recover his equilibrium as they raced down the hill, and he made some ground between the third last and second last flights. Still only seventh or eighth at that point, he stayed on from there around the home turn. He was only fifth jumping the final flight, but he continued to stay on up the hill to take third place, beaten just two and a half lengths by the winner Castle Robin, closest at the finish.

This was a nice step forward by Nicky Henderson’s horse. Winner of one of his three hurdle races last season, he was a little weak in the market before this, his first run since March. He stays this two-mile-five-furlong trip well, and he could step up to three miles in time. The handicapper raised him by 3lb to a mark of 118, which was fair. He is only five and he has the potential to go a fair way beyond that mark.

Cheltenham, 13^th November 2020