Dartington

Dartington ran better than the bare form of his run to finish fourth in the four-year-olds’ maiden hurdle that opened Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival last Sunday. Settled in mid-division and along the inside early on, Gordon Elliott’s horse travelled nicely through his race for Davy Russell. Angled towards the outside on the run down the back straight, he he was impeded when State Man fell in front of him at the second last flight, but he started to stay on nicely on the run around the home turn. He kept going all the way to the line, just missing out on third place and finishing just over three lengths behind the winner Watch House Cross.

It was a fine run from the Siyouni gelding on his hurdling debut, and his first run for Gordon Elliott. Winner of a one-mile handicap as a three-year-old for Marcus Tregoning off a mark of 65, he progressed on the flat last summer to reach a mark of 76 before he was picked up by Elliott and Aidan O’Ryan at Tattersalls’ horses-in-training sale in October. His dam won over a mile and 10 furlongs too, and reached a peak rating of 102 on the flat, and Dartington should be able to progress now, with this experience under his belt. He should be able to win a maiden hurdle soon before stepping up in grade.
Leopardstown, 26^th December 2021