Nusret
Nusret did well to keep on as well as he did to finish third in the Grade 1 juveniles’ hurdle at Aintree on Thursday. Settled last of the 11 runners through the early stages of the race, he travelled and jumped well for Daryl Jacob, but he wasn’t helped by the fact that the early pace was not strong. Still last of a well-bunched field as they turned for home, he made good ground among horses on the run to the second last flight. He got in a little tight to that obstacle, which didn’t help, just as the pace was increasing, but he still continued his progress towards the leaders. Moved towards the far side on the run to the final flight, he jumped the last in third place, but he couldn’t bridge the gap to Zenta and Bo Zenith. But they are two talented juveniles who were ridden further forward than Nusret, and Nusret finished a clear third.

It was a good run by Joseph O’Brien’s horse in a race that wasn’t run to suit him. He was a hostage to the sedate early pace. Winner of the Grade 2 Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton in February, after which his rider said that he could be at his best going right-handed, he holds an entry in the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival next Saturday. It will be a quick enough turn around, there are only nine days between the Aintree race and that race, but he would still be of interest if he did take his chance at Punchestown, where he is one for one.
Aintree, 13^th April 2023