Jason The Militant

Jason The Militant ran well for a long way in the Grade 3 Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle at Tipperary on Sunday. Weak in the market beforehand, Henry de Bromhead’s horse travelled well through the early stages of his race for Hugh Morgan, behind a decent pace that Saldier set. Saldier stretched the small field out as they raced down the back straight final time, but Jason The Militant closed right up behind him by the time they reached the end of the back straight. He appeared to travel at least as well as the leader as they raced around the home turn and, when Saldier lost his hind legs a little on the landing side of the second last flight, Jason The Militant and Darasso both moved up as big dangers on the near side. Saldier proved to be the stronger from there though, he quickened away impressively and, while Jason The Militant tired from the final flight, he still kept on well enough to finish third, just a length behind runner-up Darasso and just four lengths behind Saldier.

It was a good step back into the new season for Jason The Militant, taking on two horses who have been on the go during the summer in a race in which conditions suited the winner. Saldier was given a rating of 162 after he won the Galway Hurdle off a mark of 155 and, even though Jason The Militant is rated 5lb inferior, he had to concede 7lb to Willie Mullins’ horse. Also, the yielding ground was probably faster than ideal for Jason The MIlitant. Peter Michael’s horse should come on for this run, his first since he finished well behind his stable companion Honeysuckle in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle last April, and he should also be better on easier ground. He is only seven and he has raced just 10 times over hurdles, so there could be more to come from him this season. He ran a big race to finish a close-up third in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown last November, so he will be of interest if he goes for that race again next month.
Tipperary, 3^rd October 2021