Ain’t That A Shame

Ain’t That A Shame was unlucky not to win the Munster National at Limerick on Sunday. Smartly away and settled into a nice rhythm early on just behind the leaders, his jumping was very good in the main. When he was short, he was able to shorten well and he was able to get away sharply on the landing side. He moved up easily to join the front rank when they turned into the home straight with a circuit to run, and he jumped his way into the lead by the time they set off on their final circuit. He travelled well in front, he jumped the four fences down the back straight well. He got in tight to the third last, but he was quickly back in front and he travelled best of all into the home straight. He moved into a three-length lead on the run to the second last, jumped that well and looked all set for victory, but he got in tight to the final fence and lost momentum, and that gave a chance to his pursuer The Big Dog a strong stayer. It was a chance that Peter Fahey’s horse duly took, he stayed on strongly to get up and beat Ain’t That A Shame by a head.

Even so, it was a massive run by Henry de Bromhead’s horse in defeat. He impressed with his jumping and the ease with which he travelled. He hasn’t won over fences yet, but he has run some big races in defeat, including when he was only just caught by Champagne Platinum in a beginners’ chase at Navan last January. The handicapper raised him by 5lb for this defeat to a mark of 142, but that is a mark that should still be well within range. This was just his fifth run over fences, his first since he finished down the field in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham in March, so he has plenty of scope to progress from this. Winner of his maiden hurdle over three miles on heavy ground, he stays well. He is obviously still a novice, he is still a maiden over fences, so he has plenty of options, but there could be a good staying handicap chase in him this winter.
Limerick, 23^rd October 2022