Honor Grey

Honor Grey was a good winner of the conditional jockeys’ three-mile handicap hurdle at Aintree on Sunday. Settled just behind the front rank early on by Luca Morgan, he was tightened up as they raced around the first turn after they had jumped just one flight of hurdles, he had to be checked and he lost ground and momentum, with the result that he was well back in the field, further back than planned apparently, and wide as they raced around the second turn and into the back straight first time. He settled into his rhythm though, he travelled well through his race towards the back of the field, and he made nice ground on the outside as they raced down the back straight final time, travelling best in fourth place when they left the back straight. He jumped to the front over the second last flight, and he travelled really well in front. He idled on the run-in, Glimpse Of Gala closed to three parts of a length, but Honor Grey left the impression that he had far more in hand than that.

This was another step forward by Ben Pauling’s horse on his seasonal debut. He has now won three of his four races since he was fitted with blinkers for the first time at Ffos Las last March. He raced off a mark of 107 then, he was racing off a mark of 120 on Sunday, and he will obviously get another hike for this, but he remains progressive, and there is every chance that there is more to come. It was a 0-130 contest on Sunday, so he should be able to remain in this grade if connections wish. He stays three miles well, and he has form on heavy ground as well as on this good to soft ground.
Aintree, 23^rd October 2022