Dartmoor Pirate

Dartmoor Pirate did well to finish off his race as well as he did to take fourth place in the EBF novices’ hurdle final at Sandown on Saturday. Settled towards the rear of the field early on by Ben Godfrey on this, his first run over two and a half miles, he was about 10th or 11th going down the back straight final time, as the eventual winner, second and third, Champagne Twist, Pic Roc and Emailandy occupied the first three places. Still only 10th or 11th as they left the back straight, Dartmoor Pirate moved to the outside early in the home straight and it looked like he might challenge, but the leaders had too much in hand, they skipped ahead on the far side as Dartmoor Pirate kept on down the near side to finish fourth, just failing to catch Emailandy for third.

It was still a good run by Anthony Honeyball’s horse. From the family of Behrajan and a half-brother to ‘Fixed Brush’ Hurdle winner Baradari, he had good form over two miles and one mile and seven furlongs going into this race, but he always shaped as if he would be better over further, as his pedigree suggests he will, and this run did nothing to weaken that notion. He handled this soft ground well, but he has good form too on good to soft ground. He can be marked up at least a little on the bare form of this run, and he will be of interest again now before the end of the season, ideally over two and a half miles.

Sandown, 9^th March 2024