Youmdor

Youmdor put up a good performance on his first run in over a year to finish third behind Sionnnach Eile in the 12-furlong handicap at Ballinrobe on Monday. He was held up out the back early on by Colin Keane, last of the eight runners, and he was still last as they passed the three-furlong marker, but he got a nice gap among horses as they raced to the two, and he was able to go through that gap and move into fourth place. He picked up well too from there in an effort to bridge the gap to the leading group of three. He didn’t have the pace to match Sionnach Eile and Stellium, who broke away and went clear, but he kept on well into third place.

He caught the attention of the stewards, but it was apparent that he just didn’t have the pace to go with the two leaders when they quickened. That said, it was a really nice start back by Willie Mullins’ horse, on his first run on the flat since he won a three-year-olds’ handicap at Deauville in March 2020 when he was trained by Freddy Head. It was his first run under any code since he finished down the field in the Fred Winter Hurdle at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. He had been among the top juvenile hurdlers earlier that season, he probably would have beaten Teahupoo at Fairyhouse that January had he not come down at the final flight.

His next run was disappointing however, he could finish only fourth behind Quilixios in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, but the fact that he was sent off as 100/30 second favourite is a measure of the regard in which he was held then. Willie Mullins has obviously been patient with him, but he should be able to build on this run and, if he can get back close to the form that he showed as a juvenile hurdler, it could be worth following him. He holds an entry in the Connacht Hotel Handicap at the Galway Festival, and, while that race might come up a little too quickly for him, he will be of interest if he gets into that race, and he will be of continued interest wherever he goes thereafter.
Ballinrobe, 18th July 2022