Lecky Watson

Lecky Watson ran a big race to finish fourth in the Champion Bumper on Wednesday. In mid-division and towards the outside early on, he made nice ground on the run down the hill, and he moved up just behind the leaders as they raced around the home turn. He just got squeezed out of it as they raced through the wings of the final flight, Jack Foley had to check him, so he did well to keep on as well as he did after that to take fourth place, just proving stronger than his two stable companions It’s For Me and Captain Cody in the scrap for that position.

It was a big run by the Valirann gelding, a Willie Mullins horse who was allowed go off at 80/1 in the Champion Bumper. He hasn’t won now in four attempts, but he had three 2s beside his name going into this race, he passed the post first before being demoted at Punchestown in November, and he beat everything except Fascile Mode in the concluding bumper on the concluding day of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival. He remains a smart prospect, and his breeding and his racing style suggest that he could appreciate a step up to two and a half miles.
Cheltenham, 15^th March 2023