Maskada

Maskada probably would have won the mares’ handicap chase that opened proceedings at Fairyhouse last Sunday had she not come down at the second last fence.  She had done everything right up to that point.  The strong pace suited her well, Darragh O’Keeffe had her nicely settled towards the rear of mid-division early on, her jumping had been very good and she had moved up nicely around the home turn.  it appeared that she was still travelling really well on the run to the second last fence as she made her ground up on the outside to close on the leaders.  She actually jumped the fence well too, she hardly touched it, but she just crumpled on landing.  Of course, you never know for sure how it would have panned out, but the race was won by Malina Girl, who was behind Maskada and didn’t appear to be travelling as well as she was at the point of her departure.

Henry de Bromhead’s mare should be able to gain compensation soon.  Winner of a listed mares’ chase for Stuart Edmunds at Leicester last January, she didn’t run badly on her first run for Henry de Bromhead in the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novices’ Chase at the Punchestown Festival last April.  This was her first run since.  She was a prominent racer for Stuart Edmunds, but she was running well here under more patient tactics.  She is only six, she goes well on good to soft ground, and she will be of interest wherever she goes next.

Fairyhouse, 4th December 2022