Secret Investor

Secret Investor only finished sixth of the six finishers in the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial at Chepstow last Saturday, but he ran much better than that suggests.  Weak in the market beforehand on this, his first run in 650 days, he travelled really well through his race and his jumping was very good.  Third and apparently travelling well as they turned into the home straight, he got in a little tight to the fifth last fence, and he just tired from there.  He just kept on over the last four fences to finish sixth, over 20 lengths behind the impressive winner Farinet.

It was a most encouraging return to action by Paul Nicholls’ horse.  We know that he is a high-class performer, he beat his stable companion Clan Des Obeaux in the Grade 2 Denman Chase in February 2021 on his last run before Saturday.  He is 10 now, but he retains a lot of ability on this evidence.  His weakness in the pre-race market suggests that he could come on appreciably for this run, and he will be of interest wherever he goes now.  He holds an entry in the Coral Welsh National on 27th December back at Chepstow, a track at which he has won twice, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that, for all that his stamina for that extreme trip is not yet proven.

Chepstow, 3rd December 2022