Gars De Sceaux

Gars De Sceaux was seriously impressive in winning the two-mile-seven-furlong novices’ hurdle at Navan on Saturday. Always travelling well for Mark Walsh behind a solid pace that James O’Sullivan set on Velvet Elvis, JP McManus’ horse made nice ground to move up just behind the leaders on the run to the home turn. Ragnar Ladbrok made ground with him, but it quickly became apparent that Gars De Sceaux was travelling better. He moved up on the outside of Velvet Elvis at the second last flight, Mark Walsh fairly motionless as James O’Sullivan rowed away, moved to the front on the run to the last and, despite stumbling a little on the landing side of the obstacle, came away easily on the run-in to win readily.

This was a good step forward from Denise Foster’s horse on just his third run under Rules. Winner of his only point-to-point for Denis Murphy, when he beat Magic Trix – now rated 132 over hurdles and also owned by JP McManus – into second place, he did well to finish second to Hook Up in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on his racecourse debut, over two miles, which was obviously too sharp for him. He stepped forward from that next time when he stepped up to two and a half miles and stayed on well to win his maiden at Navan. Out of a sister to high-class staying French chaser Ilare and from the family of Bristol De Mai, he appeared to appreciate this step up to two miles and seven furlongs. He is an exciting staying chaser in the making, but he will also be of interest if he lines up in a good staying novices’ hurdle later this season.
Navan, 13^th March 2021