Drop The Anchor

Drop The Anchor was a little unlucky not to finish closer than he did in the two-mile handicap hurdle. He got into a good position early on just behind the leaders and one off the rail in the second wave, up on the outside of Ciel De Neige. It never appeared as if he was travelling as well as that rival though. He wasn’t overly fluent at a couple of his hurdles, and he came under pressure on the run around the home turn, at which point it looked like he was struggling. He did pick up on the run to the second last flight, but Eclair De Beaufeu fell at that obstacle in front of him, causing him to lose ground and momentum. Simon Torrens got him going again, but he wasn’t fluent at the final flight either and, while Advanced Virgo ran out an impressive winner, he did well to keep on up the run-in to get up for third place behind him and Cayd Boy.

Pat Fahy’s horse won just once in six runs last season, but he looks like an improved performer this term. He battled on well to get the better of Getaway Gorgeous in a handicap hurdle at the Listowel Festival in September off a mark of 122 and, raised 7lb for that, he was under pressure but he wasn’t a spent force when he was brought down at the second last flight in a handicap hurdle at Down Royal at the end of October. He races as if he would appreciate a step back up in trip, but he was beaten three times over two and a half miles last season, and it may just be that he will be at his best in a true test over two miles, ideally a fast-run race on soft ground at a stiff track. He will be of interest if he takes his chance in some of the big two-mile handicap hurdles in which a good pace is usually likely, the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot in December or the Ladbrokes Hurdle at Leopardstown in February or the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury in February or the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Fairyhouse, 29^th November 2020