Solness

Solness put up a really nice performance to win the feature race on the opening day of the Listowel Festival on Sunday, the Kerry Group Handicap Chase. Prominent from early under Oakley Brown and along the inside, he had to take evasive action when Je T’Ai Porte fell in front of him at the fence in front of the stands, and again when Mount Frisco fell in front of him at the first fence down the back straight. That left him in front, which wasn’t ideal, so far from home. He came under a ride at the top of the home straight as Presenting Lad closed on him on the near side and The Banger Doyle made ground on the far side, but the fact that Solness was able to pick up again on the run-in was impressive. It suggested that he was probably just idling in front, which is understandable, he had been in front for a long time. He probably had at least a little left to give.

It was a big performance by Joseph O’Brien’s horse under top weight of 12st 1lb, and that was after Oakley Brown’s 5lb claim was taken into account. The two-mile-six-and-a-half-furlong trip of the Galway Plate on his previous run probably stretched his stamina, on his first run since the Punchestown Festival, but this two-mile-one-and-a-half-furlong trip suited him well. The handicapper raised him by 5lb for this win to a mark of 153, which was fair, and he is only six, he still has the potential to progress again over fences. He can operate on softer ground too, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.

Listowel, 22^nd September 2024