Gladiateur Allen

Gladiateur Allen did well to finish third in the EBF Final, given that he raced up with the pace in a race in which the hold-up horses came to the fore. The other five horses who, with him, filled the first six places, were all held up early. By contrast, Gladiateur Allen raced up just behind the pace from flagfall, in third place behind Dorking Lad and Ocean Drifter. He travelled strongly down the back straight and he was still on the bridle as they rounded the home turn. He came under pressure when the winner Beauport went past him on the outside, and it wouldn’t have been surprising if he had faded from there, but he stuck to his task well. He stayed on bravely for Chester Williams in the testing conditions, despite making a mistake at the second last flight, to get back up for third place.

This was just Jane Williams’ horse’s fifth run over hurdles, and he continues to progress. Winner of a novices’ hurdle at Ascot in January, he was a little keen when he went back to Ascot for a handicap hurdle last month. He is learning to settle better as he gains in experience and, still only five, he should be able to continue his progression now. This intermediate trip is a good trip for him for now, but he shaped here as if he could get further.
Sandown, 13^th March 2021