Druid’s Altar

Druid’s Altar could not have been more impressive than he was in winning the two-and-a-half-mile novices’ chase at Wexford last Saturday.

He settled nicely into his race in second place behind Effernock Fizz, and his jumping was exemplary. He got in a little tight to the second fence but, after that, he didn’t miss a beat. He was very good when he was long and Donagh Meyler gave him a squeeze, and he was safe and sharp when he was short. He moved up on the outside of the leader as they left the back straight, he travelled easily into the home straight and he just cleared away from his rivals. He was fast and fluent over the last two fences and, ears pricked, he coasted up the run-in to come home 15 lengths clear of Jungle Junction in second.

This was just Druid’s Altar’s fifth race over fences, and he has won three of them. He was good in beating Jungle Junction on his previous run at Killarney, but he was better here and he beat his old rival more easily. Joseph O’Brien’s horse was a good juvenile hurdler last season, he ran in the good graded juvenile hurdles in the early part of the season, and he beat Zaffonien in a rated novices’ hurdle at Naas in February, but he is already a better chaser than hurdler. The handicapper raised him by 7lb for Saturday’s win to a mark of 142, but he is only four, and he has the potential to go beyond that rating. This two-and-a-half-mile trip is a good trip for him for now but, a half-brother to Sands Of Fortune, who won over two and a half miles on the flat, he could step up in trip in time. He is an exciting young chaser, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.
Wexford, 4^th September 2021