Ballyadam

Ballyadam ran well to finish fifth in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham on Friday. Settled towards the rear of the field early on by Aidan Coleman and towards the inside, he travelled well through his race and his jumping was good. He was still well back in the field as they raced down the hill, but he only had four or five horses behind him jumping the second last flight, but he picked up well when they straightened up for home. He stayed on well on the far side, away from the main action on the favoured stands rail, over the final flight and up the hill to take fifth place, just six lengths behind the winner State Man.

It was a really encouraging run by Henry de Bromhead’s horse, his best run for some time. He seemed to enjoy being ridden like this, in behind and passing horses, and he finished off his race strongly up the hill. He did well to get as close as he did from the rear, given that they didn’t go that quickly for a County Hurdle. He has only been beyond two miles and one and a half furlongs once in his life, but he might be worth another try now over two and a half miles, maybe at Punchestown, an easy two and a half miles. He could be a well-handicapped horse now, and he will be of interest off his current mark in a good handicap hurdle at one of the spring festivals.
Cheltenham, 18^th March 2022