Flegmatik

Flegmatic only just missed out in the Coral Trophy at Kempton on Saturday. Held up early on by Harry Skelton, he made nice progress through his field as they raced down the back straight. Stuck to the inside rail, he moved into second place behind early leader Annsam as they raced out of the back straight, and he travelled well into the home straight. Travelling best of all as they straightened up for home, he jumped to the front over the third last fence, which is probably around about the point at which he traded at 1.2 in-running. He just got in a little tight to the second last fence, and that gave Our Power a chance. He wasn’t great at the last either, and Our Power surged past with about 150 yards to go. The manner in which Flegmatik rallied was admirable, however, and he only went down by a neck in the end.

This was probably a career-best from Dan Skelton’s horse in his first-time cheekpieces. It wasn’t a disadvantage that he was held up early on, away from the strong early pace, but he made his ground surprisingly easily, and Harry Skelton probably found himself in front a little earlier than ideal. He goes well at Kempton – he won two races at the track in February last year, the latter the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase on this card last year – and he goes well on good and good to soft ground, and he stays three miles. He is probably at his best going right-handed – he ran well at Ascot on his debut this season – and a 5lb hike for Saturday’s performance should be manageable. He will be of interest wherever he goes next, ideally in a big-field handicap in which a good pace is likely, and on goodish ground at a right-handed track.
Kempton, 25^th February 2023