Camprond

Camprond did well to keep on as well as he did to finish fourth in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday. Prominent from early and around the inside, Philip Hobbs’ horse travelled well for Aidan Coleman, and his jumping was good. He made a fairly significant mistake at the third last flight, on the run down the hill just as the pace was increasing, which obviously wasn’t ideal, but he still came back on the bridle on the run to the third last. He was a little careful at that obstacle, with the result that he had to re-generate momentum as they raced around the home turn. He stayed towards the far side in the home straight, further from the favoured stands rail than the three horses who were in front of him, but he still kept on well up the hill to take fourth place behind West Cork, two and a half lengths ahead of Tritonic in fourth.

Camprond probably wasn’t advantaged by racing handily and around the inside. The first two home, West Cork and Adagio, both came from mid-division. The third horse, No Ordinary Joe, did race prominently, but he raced out towards the centre of the track throughout. Indeed, of the seven horses who, as well as Camprond, raced towards the inside of the track as they raced away from the stands final time, the next best-placed horse at the winning line after Camprond was Jesse Evans, who finished ninth. JP McManus’ horse had won his previous two races, both on good ground, and, still only five, there could be more to come from him now. And he stays two and a half miles well, he is two for two over the trip, so it may be that he will step forward again when he steps back up in trip. The Coral Cup would be a legitimate target this season.
Cheltenham, 14^th November 2021