Eklat De Rire

Eklat De Rire put up an impressive performance to win his beginners’ chase on his chasing bow. He set off in front, but he was a little keen and, when Larquebuse went up to join him and move ahead of him as they started off down the back straight final time, after The Big Dog’s departure, Rachael Blackmore was happy to cede the lead. Eklat De Rire travelled well in Larquebuse’s slipstream until he jumped past her again at the fourth last fence. He jumped the third last well too and, while he was joined by School Boy Hours on the run to the second last, it always looked like his rider was holding onto plenty. She didn’t really ask her horse for his effort until they landed over the second last fence, and he responded well. He went two lengths clear of School Boy Hours on the run to the last, jumped that obstacle well and kept on nicely to win by three and a half lengths.

You couldn’t have asked for much more from Henry de Bromhead’s horse really, on this, his chasing bow. Visually, it was a nice performance, and it was a good beginners’ chase. The runner-up is a 134-rated performer who had finished second to Latest Exhibition on his seasonal debut, while Larquebuse is rated 135 over hurdles. And it was Eklat De Rire’s first chase, his first run since last March, and just his third run under Rules, so there could be significant progress forthcoming. Winner of his only point-to-point, it was interesting too that Henry de Bromhead mentioned the Grade 1 three-mile chases at Kempton and at Leopardstown at Christmas as potential targets now. The Saddex gelding is obviously held in high regard at home, and he could step forward to take a high rank among the staying novice chasers this season.

Punchestown, 8^th December 2020