Xcitations

Xcitations was good in winning the two-mile handicap chase at Sandown on Saturday. He always travelled well through his race for Jack Andrews, up on the outside of the leader Corrigeen Rock from early. His jumping was very good, and he moved to the front as they raced around the home turn and faced up to the second last fence. Grey Diamond was a faller at that obstacle when travelling well, but Xcitations was travelling at least as well at that point, probably a little better, and he found lots from there over the last and up the run-in to win in a good time by nine lengths from Corrigeen Rock, who had run out an impressive winner over the course and distance a month earlier.

Pam Sly’s horse won in December and in January last year, and he has now repeated that feat this year. He didn’t race again after January last season, so hopefully his trainer can get a good run with him now this term, because he is a really likeable and progressive individual. The handicapper raised him by 7lb for this win to a mark of 140, but there is every chance that he is progressive enough to cope with that hike. He has raced just seven times over fences, and he has won four times. His previous wins had all been on good or good to soft ground, but he proved here that he could operate on soft ground too, and this two-mile trip is a good trip for him.
Sandown, 7^th January 2023