Bleu De Vassy

Bleu De Vassy couldn’t have been much more impressive than he was in winning the two-mile-two-and-a-half-furlong maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Weak in the market beforehand, Gordon Elliott’s horse’s jumping was very good for a debutant, he travelled supremely well for Jack Kennedy through his race, he eased his way to the front on the run to the second last flight, and he quickened away from there. He put 25 lengths between himself and his pursuers by the time he got to the winning line, and he clocked a time that was almost six seconds faster than the time that the handicappers clocked over the same course and distance 35 minutes later. Interestingly, he dipped below 13secs for each of his last three furlongs. There were 62 other runners at Fairyhouse on Saturday, and not one of them clocked 13secs or faster for any furlong.

It took the Gigginstown House horse a little while to find his metier last season in bumpers, but he was impressive in winning his bumper on his fourth and final attempt at Clonmel in April. He hadn’t run since then, so there is every chance that he will improve in terms of race fitness and hurdling experience. Also, he went well on the goodish ground on Saturday, all his runs in bumpers were on soft or heavy ground. Out of a half-sister to Ivan Grozny, a Grade 2 winner over two miles over hurdles, the Cokoriko gelding should progress from this now. His trainer said afterwards that he would come on for this run and, obviously well regarded, it could be worth following him now as he steps up in grade.

Fairyhouse, 12^th October 2024