Funambule Sivola

Funambule Sivola put up a nice performance to win the two-mile handicap chase. Settled into a nice rhythm by Charlie Deutsch in third place behind a good pace set initially by King D’Argent, he was sticky enough over the two middle fences in the back straight, with the result that he dropped to fourth place by the time they reached the end of the back straight, but he still appeared to travel well. Left in third when King D’Argent departed at the cross-fence, he moved up nicely on the outside as they rounded the home turn, jumped to the front over the third last, and kept on well from there, always doing enough to hold the game runner-up Shut The Box.

He only got home by a half a length in the end, but he left the impression that he won with more in hand than the bare winning margin. He travelled well up the home straight and got the better of Shut The Box, but he probably idled on the run-in. It is probable that he was only doing as much as he needed to do. His task was rendered easier than it might have been when King D’Argent fell at the cross fence, the fifth last, but he still did all that he had to do. The runner-up is a progressive chaser, and the two of them finished clear of their rivals in a decent time.

Venetia Williams’ horse probably appreciated the drop back down to two miles. He was disappointing at Sandown over two and a half miles on soft ground on his previous run, but that run probably came up too quickly after he had won at Wetherby. Connections obviously took the chance, given that he was racing under a 7lb penalty and that he had been raised by 5lb more than that by the handicapper.

He proved that he was well up to his mark of 124 here, and he remains of interest now off his new mark of 130. This was just his third run over fences, so he has the potential to improve again. This well-run two miles seemed to suit him well. He holds an entry in the two-mile handicap chase at Warwick on Saturday, and he will be of interest if he takes his chance in that.

Newbury, 29^th December 2020