Gemirande

Gemirande was well beaten by Certainly Red in the end in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Sandown on Saturday, but he did well to finish a good second behind a horse who stays this trip well. Sent to the front from flagfall by Charlie Deutsch, Gemirande jumped and travelled well through the early part of the race, but he nodded on landing over the first of the Railway fences, he got in tight to the second, and he clipped the top of the third, losing momentum at all three fences. Even so, he was able to retain the inside berth from Precious Eleanor as they raced out of the back straight, and he jumped on again at the Pond Fence. Certainly Red moved in behind the leading pair however on the run to the second last fence and he ran out a good winner, but Gemirande kept on well to finish a clear second.

All of Gemirande’s best runs before this were on good or good to soft ground. Venetia Williams’ horse was 10lb higher here than he was for his previous run when he won at Southwell, but he proved here that he was well up for this mark of 124. Raised 2lb for this, he will be of interest again now his new mark of 126, ideally when he can get back on better ground. He has only just turned seven and this was just his seventh run over fences, so he has the potential for more.
Sandown, 7^th January 2023