Frontal Assault

Frontal Assault was impressive in winning the Mongey Communications Chase at Galway on Tuesday.  Weak in the market beforehand, he warmed to his task nicely after a ponderous jump at the first fence.  He travelled well through his race after that, up on the outside of leader Darrens Hope.  He joined the leader at the final fence, he travelled well to the home turn, and he moved on easily into the lead, staying on well up the hill to come four and a half lengths clear of the mare by the time he got to the winning line.

Gordon Elliott’s horse’s task was rendered a little easier than it might have been by the fact that the well-backed Jon Snow under-performed, but he couldn’t have done much more than he did.  A gallant second in the Irish Grand National last April, this was his first run since then, and there is every reason to expect that he will come on for it.  As well as that, this two-mile-six-and-a-half-furlong trip is probably at the lower end of his distance range.  He should be even happier when he steps back up in trip.

This was his first win over fences, so he is still a novice this season, and that gives him lots of options.  Gordon Elliott mentioned the Troytown Chase as a possible target now, and that makes lots of sense.  He has a remarkably similar profile to last year’s Troytown winner Run Wild Fred: a Gigginstown House/Gordon Elliott horse, runner-up in the Irish Grand National as a maiden chaser, rated in the mid-140s.  Frontal Assault will be of interest if he does take his chance in the Troytown Chase on 27th November at Navan, a track at which he won a Grade 3 novices’ hurdle two seasons ago, and in other staying chases through the season.

Galway, 4th October 202