Telecon

Telecon only finished fourth in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at Bellewstown on Tuesday, but he ran much better than that. He was keener than ideal early on in this, his first attempt at two and a half miles under Rules, and, while he moved up threateningly along the inside on the run to the end of the back straight, he weakened from the second last flight as his early exertions took their toll. Lieutenant Highway ran out a good winner in the end, Gordon Elliott’s horse has now won his last four and he is on a serious upward curve, but Telecon probably would have finished closer to him than he did if he had settled better early on.

Mark Fahey’s horse went into Tuesday’s race on the back of a defeat in a listed novices’ hurdle at Galway, but he was travelling well that day before a bad mistake at the second last flight ended his winning chance. He is better judged on his impressive victory at Ballinrobe in July. He is only five and he has raced just five times under Rules in his life, and he will probably learn to settle better as he gains in experience, but, for now at least, he will probably be seen to best effect dropped back down to two miles. He has the potential to go well beyond his handicap rating of 120, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next, ideally dropped down to the minimum trip.
Bellewstown, 23^rd August 2022