Whatsupwithyou

Whatsupwithyou put up a good performance to finish second to Stimulating Song in the two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle. Settled in mid-division early on by Luca Morgan and towards the outside, he made nice ground down the back straight to move into second place behind the leader Topofthecotswolds, and he travelled well down the hill over the third last flight. He jumped that flight well and moved up into a share of the lead on the run to the second last flight, which he jumped in front, then kicked for home. It is a long way though from the second last flight to the winning line on soft ground at Cheltenham in November, and Paddy Brennan made his ground gradually from the rear on Stimulating Song, moved into second place at the top of the home straight, and caught Whatsupwithyou with 100 yards to run.

It was a good run though by Ben Pauling’s horse, it was a nice step forward from his seasonal debut at Cheltenham’s October meeting over the same course and distance, when he finished seventh behind Captain Tom Cat, whom he had nine and a half lengths behind him here. He appeared to appreciate the softer ground here, and the extra premium that it placed on stamina over this trip. The handicapper raised him by 5lb for this to a mark of 137, but he is only six and this was just his fifth run over hurdles, so he still has the scope to go beyond his new mark. He will be of interest wherever he goes now, and he could probably step up to three miles at some point.

Cheltenham, 14^th November 2020