Horantzau D’Airy

Horantzau D’Airy stayed on well to take second place behind Flooring Porter in the Kerry National at Listowel on Wednesday. In truth, the winner had the race in the bag from a long way out, he got into his rhythm in front and had set up a race-winning advantage by the time he got to the fourth last fence, but Horantzau D’Airy did a lot right. Settled just worse than mid-division and towards the outside by Paul Townend early on, he travelled well and his jumping was really good. He moved up on the run down the back straight, took fourth place over the third last fence and moved into second place on the run to the second last. He stayed on well from there too, he closed to within just over four lengths of the winner, who was admittedly eased down close home, pulling 13 lengths clear of Lucid Dreams in third.

It was a strong performance by Willie Mullins’ horse. A 134-rated hurdler, he probably would have finished a staying-on second behind Easy Fella at Killarney on his previous run had he not fallen at the final fence in a novices’ chase over almost three miles, the longest distance over which he had ever raced, and this was a step up on that. He is only seven and this was just his sixth run over fences, so he is wholly unexposed over three miles over fences. He had proven before that he could operate on soft ground, and he remains potentially well-handicapped now as a staying chaser.

Listowel, 25^th September 2024