Cahirdown Boy

It appeared as if Cahirdown Boy still had at least a little left to give when he came down at the second last fence in the two-mile-six-furlong beginners’ chase at Punchestown on Sunday. Settled nicely early on by Conor McNamara just behind the leader Salmanino and along the inside, his jumping was good in the main. He made a mistake at the first fence down the back straight final time, the sixth last, and he ceded second place to From The Ashes as a consequence, but he was quickly back into his rhythm and his rider appeared to be fairly relaxed. He travelled well across the top of the track, and he was moving back up easily on the inside into a share of second place again when he got in tight to the second last fence and came down.

Of course, it is impossible to know how Eric McNamara’s horse would have fared had he safely negotiated the second last, but he was still travelling well at the time, better than ultimate runner-up From The Ashes and at least as well as Salmanino, who made all. He is eight now, and he has run 23 times over hurdles, and he obviously hasn’t won yet over fences, but this was just his seventh chase. On his previous run he finished a good second to Bonnie Kellie in a handicap chase at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day, and he was probably going to step forward from that here. He has form over shorter, but he won over an extended two-and-three-quarter miles over hurdles, and he will be of interest again over this type of trip over fences, perhaps ideally on better ground.
Punchestown, 15^th January 2023