An Tailliur

An Tailliur put up a nice performance to finish third in the Pertemps Qualifier at Cheltenham on Saturday. Weak in the market before the off, he was settled towards the rear of the field early on by Jonjo O’Neill. A little keen early on, he made nice progress on the outside down the back straight, and he moved into a share of fifth place with the ultimate winner Shoot First at the top of the hill. He travelled well down the hill too, just behind the leaders. He came under a ride on the run to the second last flight, and an untidy jump there didn’t help him. He could have faded out of it from there, so there was a lot to like about the manner in which he battled. Only fifth rounding the home turn, he stayed on well from there over the last and up the hill to finish third, just three lengths behind the winner and only beaten a half a length by Botox Has for the runner-up spot.

It was a really likeable performance by Jonjo O’Neill’s horse on his first run since May. He was a progressive horse in 2021, he won six of his seven completed races between May and December 2021, and he finished second to subsequent Mares’ Hurdle winner Marie’s Rock on soft ground in the other. He is only six, so he has the potential to progress again as we move through the season, and the Pertemps Final back at the Cheltenham Festival in March is a legitimate target, now that he has proven that he can operate at the track. He is at his best on goodish ground.
Cheltenham, 22^nd October 2022