Good Boy Bobby

Good Boy Bobby did well to finish second to Aye Right in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle last Saturday. Prominent from early, he and the ultimate winner Aye Right disputed the lead for over a circuit. They had it between them from the top of the home straight in a race in which it was difficult for the hold-up horses to make progress. Aye Right moved on at the third last fence, travelling best, but he got in tight to the last, and Good Boy Bobby stayed on willingly and strongly up the run-in to get to within a head of the winner.

This was a fine performance by Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse, on his second run of the season and back up to nearly three miles. He had raced over this type of trip just once before, he finished third in a three-mile-one-furlong handicap hurdle at Huntingdon when it appeared as if he didn’t stay the trip. He stayed the trip at Newcastle all right, he had to stay in order to get as close as he did, through the snow, and he was strong on the run-in.

The handicapper raised him by 5lb for this to a mark of 146, but that was fair, it is back up to the rating on which he started off last season. He handles soft ground well, and he remains unexposed over staying trips.
Newcastle, 28^th November 2021