Act Of Authority

There was a lot to like about the manner in which Act Of Authority won the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Sandown on Sunday. Held up towards the rear of the field early on by Lewis Sanders off no better than a moderate pace, he travelled well down the back straight and he made good ground among horses as they rounded the home turn. He got involved in a bit of scrimmaging though on the run to the second last flight, he got squeezed out of it and his rider had to take him back and take him wide. Quickly back on an even keel, however, he picked up well on landing over the second last flight. He hit the front at the final flight and he cleared away up the run-in to win impressively.

This was a really nice performance by Olly Murphy's horse. Winner of a novices' handicap hurdle over almost two and a half miles on soft ground at Wetherby in March off a mark of 129, he was racing off a mark of 126 here, and that obviously under-rates his ability. He hasn't been re-assessed yet, he could go up by around 10lb, but he will still be of interest off his new mark. A nicely-bred individual out of a talented mare, and winner of his only point-to-point, he could take a nice step forward now and he is one to keep on side for a little while. In the immediate term, he holds an entry on Saturday in a handicap hurdle at Wetherby, a track at which he is one for one. He would be able to run there without a penalty, and his chance will be obvious if he does line up in the race, although it is unlikely that he will go unnoticed by the market.

Sandown, 10^th November 2024