Sounds Russian

Sounds Russian ran a big race to finish second behind Ahoy Senor in the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday. Travelling well from early in behind the leaders, he moved up on the outside to mix it with Frodon on the front end as they raced down the back straight, and he moved to the front over the fifth last fence. That is a long way from home on the New Course at Cheltenham however, and his cause wasn’t helped by a mistake at the tricky fourth last fence, from which he did well to recover. He still led over the third last fence and into the home straight and, challenged by Ahoy Senor at the second last fence, he battled on well, and only gave best inside the final 100 yards.

Most of the post-race attention centred on Ahoy Senor and third-placed Noble Yeats and fourth-placed Protektorat, so the quality of the performance that Sounds Russian put up may have gone a little under the radar. Ruth Jefferson’s horse has progressed this season into a high-class staying chaser, he was only just beaten in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on St Stephen’s Day off a mark of 157, when he appeared to get out-paced before staying on well. He may be at his best on a flat track though, and the Betway Bowl at Aintree may be the race for him, more than the Gold Cup. He stays well, and he could be a Grand National horse at some stage.
Cheltenham, 28^th January 2023