Will Sting

Will Sting ran out an impressive winner of the two-mile novices’ handicap hurdle that opened proceedings at Warwick on Saturday. He was a little ponderous over the first two flights, but he was better at the third when he met it on a good stride, and he settled into his race nicely along the inside and towards the rear. He was good over the three hurdles down the side of the track and, although checked a little initially by the weakening The Garrison on the run to the home turn, he got a lovely run around the inside and actually led into the home straight. He was probably in front sooner than rider Aidan Coleman would ideally have liked, but he had to take the inside run when it was there really and, actually, the Scorpion gelding seemed to be very happy in front. He travelled best of all in front down to the second last flight, jumped that obstacle well and he came clear on the run to the last, before staying on well up the run-in to win by nine and a half lengths.

It was an impressive performance by Lucy Wadham’s horse on this, his handicap debut and just his fourth run over hurdles. He had shaped encouragingly on his previous run at Huntingdon over two and a half miles, but he seemed to appreciate this drop back down to the minimum trip here, a trip over which he won his bumper at Huntingdon on his debut this season, the handicapper has raised him by 13lb for this to a mark of 122, which is not an insignificant hike, but he was still novicey here in his jumping, so there is plenty of room for progression as he gains in experience and becomes more proficient over his obstacles. He should be able to go higher again.
Warwick, 16^th January 2021