Hotrocket

Hotrocket did well to finish fourth in the older horses’ seven-furlong handicap at Cork on Saturday from his low draw. Fast away and settled back in mid-division through the early stages of the race, closest to the far rail, he made nice progress towards the leaders on the far side at the three-furlong marker. Still on the bridle passing the two-furlong marker, he picked up well when Declan McDonogh asked him to, he hit the front at the furlong pole, but he just couldn’t hold off the closers inside the final furlong. He only finished fourth in the end, but he was only beaten a total of a length by the winner Joe Masseria, and there was a little break between the first four and the rest.

It was a fine run by Joseph O’Brien’s horse on his seasonal debut, and racing towards the far side from his low draw. The other four horses who, with him, filled the first five places were all drawn in double figures and raced towards the near side. This was his first run of the season too, and it was just his second run for Joseph O’Brien so, a lightly-raced four-year-old, who has raced just five times in his life, he has lots of scope for progression this season. He coped with the soft ground well on Saturday, but he won his maiden over seven furlongs at Fairyhouse last July on good ground on his final run for John Murphy, so he will remain of interest on better ground too. The handicapper raised him by just 1lb to a mark of 86, and he will be of interest off that mark now wherever he goes.
Cork, 8^th April 2023