Frontal Assault

Noted here after he finished fourth behind Ciel De Neige over an inadequate two and a half miles in a novices’ chase at Navan in December, Frontal Assault is worth noting again now after he finished second behind his stable companion Floueur – in a Gordon Elliott 1-2-3 – and two places in front of Egality Mans, in that beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse last Saturday. Prominent from early, he dropped to fourth place when they quickened on the run to the home turn, and he came under a ride shortly thereafter, but he stayed on well for Bryan Cooper over the last two fences, getting back past the weakening Egality Mans and one stable companion Grand Paradis, and getting to within a half a length of his other stable companion Floueur, closing all the way to the line.

Even this two-mile-five-and-a-half-furlong trip appeared to be on the sharp side for Gordon Elliott’s horse, but there was a lot to like about the way that he stayed on after he dropped a few lengths behind the leaders on the run to the second last fence. He is from the family of Champion Chaser Special Tiara, but he stayed on well to win a Grade 3 novices’ hurdle over three miles on heavy ground at Navan last February, so it is probable that he will progress for stepping up to staying trips over fences. The handicapper gave him a mark of 138 after this, and that is a mark that should be well within range when he steps up in trip. He is high in the betting for the Kim Muir at Cheltenham, and that looks like a viable option for him, a race that the Cullentra team have won three times in the last six years.
Fairyhouse, 29^th January 2022