Datsalrightgino

Datsalrightgino did well to finish second to Solo in the Pendil Chase at Kempton on Saturday. Settled towards the rear early on by Gavin Sheehan, fourth of the five runners, he was out a little to his left at several fences, and he got in a little tight to one or two, and he was wider on the track than ideal. He made good ground over the fifth last and fourth last fences to move up on the outside and get close to the leaders, but he was tight to the third last and a little to his left, and he was three wide around the home turn. By contrast, Solo jumped well in front throughout, flush against the inside rail, and he came away from his rivals from the second last fence. It never looked like Datsalrightgino was going to get to him, but he did well to keep on as well as he did to finish second, six lengths in front of Boothill, winner of the Wayward Lad Chase at this track at Christmas.

It was a good performance by Jamie Snowden’s horse under less than optimal conditions. Solo got to set his own pace and he was quickly into a good rhythm at a track that suits his racing style, and Datsalrightgino closed to within two lengths of him. The It’s Gino gelding put up a good performance too on his previous run in finishing second behind another Paul Nicholls horse in Stage Star in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham’s January meeting, and this was probably a step forward from that. He is only seven and he has run just six times over fences, so he has plenty of scope now to continue his progression. He stays this two-and-a-half-mile trip well, and he is worth a try over further. He could do better back on a left-handed track too. He ran well at Newbury on his only visit there last November, and he has won and run well in the past at Chepstow and at Cheltenham.
Kempton, 25^th February 2023