The Very Man

The Very Man kept on well to take fourth place in the one-mile-six-furlong handicap that brought proceedings to a close at The Curragh on Irish Guineas weekend. Slowly away and ridden along early, he settled into his racing rhythm towards the rear of the field early on, 16th of the 18 runners. Still third last as they rounded the home turn, Shane Foley had to take him wide in the home straight as he asked him to deliver his run, and the Jeremy gelding kept on well though all the way up the home straight. It never looked like he was going to get to the leaders on the inside, but he kept on best of all down the outside to take fourth place, just over two lengths behind the winner Dame Rapide, who was winning the race for the second consecutive year.
It is often difficult to make ground from the rear in middle-distance races at The Curragh, and this was one such race. The three horses who finished in front of The Very Man were fourth, fifth and third respectively as they turned for home. The Very Man was 16th. He did best of the hold-up horses. As well as that, he had to deliver his run wide, well away from the inside rail where the race developed. He can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of the run.

Best known as a hurdler, Jessica Harrington’s horse hadn’t run on the flat since he finished down the field in the November Handicap at Naas last November. He had been in good form over hurdles in the interim though, he finished placed in valuable handicap hurdles at Cork and Punchestown in the spring, and there could be more to come from him on the flat now. He is nine years old, but he has raced just five times on the flat, and a 1lb hike for Sunday’s run was more than fair. He may have the Galway Hurdle on his radar again this year, but he will be of interest if he runs in another staying handicap on the flat between now and then.
The Curragh, 28^th May 2023