Sage Advice

Sage Advice ran out an impressive winner of the juveniles’ hurdle that opened proceedings at Kempton on Saturday. Keen enough early on, he settled into his race nicely as they raced down the back straight. He travelled well in fourth place as they raced to the home turn, as the first four broke clear, moved up nicely on the outside as they straightened up for home, and jumped the second last flight in second place behind Tinnahalla. He shipped a bump from his rival as they landed over that obstacle, but he picked up nicely on the run to the final flight, jumped that obstacle well and came away readily to win easily.

It was a taking performance by the Make Believe gelding on this, his hurdling debut and his first run for Dr Richard Newland. Winner of a 10-furlong maiden for Joe Murphy at Cork last August, and third in a 12-furlong handicap at Tipperary in September off a mark of 80, he jumped his hurdles well here, and he showed a good attitude. This was his first run since October, and it was his first run over hurdles and his first foray beyond a mile and a half, so he has bags of scope for progression now as a hurdler.
Kempton, 9^th January 2021