Big Debates

It might also be worthwhile keeping Big Debates on side, after his fine run to finish second to Wa Wa in the two-and-a-half-mile novices’ handicap chase at Naas on Saturday. Held up early on by Jack Foley, he made good ground from the rear as they raced down the back straight, and he arrived on the outside on the run to the second last fence with a real chance. In the end, he had no answer to Wa Wa’s strong finish, but he kept on well to take the runner-up spot by almost three lengths from Brandy Harbour.

Robert Tyner’s horse is eight now, but he has raced just six times over fences, so he still has plenty of scope to go forward. Winner of a handicap hurdle at Ballinrobe in May, he returned from a break to win a handicap chase at Limerick in October impressively off a mark of 101. Raised by 9lb for that to a mark of 110, he was raised by another 2lb for Saturday’s run to a mark of 112. But time may prove that he faced a fairly formidable task, taking on Wa Wa in a 0-116 handicap, and he could be a well-handicapped horse now on that mark. He is on a nice upward trajectory now, and there is every chance that he will be able to continue his forward march as we move into the winter. He goes well on soft ground, and this two-and-a-half-mile trip looks like a good trip for him.
Naas, 6^th November 2021