Good Land
The two-and-a-half-mile beginners' chase at Navan on Saturday could prove to be a good pointer to the future. Won in the past by Black Hercules and Our Duke and Chris's Dream and Conflated and Invitation Only, it looked like a strong renewal this year before the race was run and, with Ile Atlantique running out an impressive winner from Martin Pipe Hurdle runner-up Waterford Whisper, there is no reason to alter that notion. Good Land put up a most satisfactory performance too on his first run in over a year and a half. Prominent from early, his jumping was good for a chasing debutant. He was right there with the leaders until after the third last fence, when he came under a ride. He stuck to his task well though for Finny Maguire and, while Ile Atlantique ran out an impressive winner, he stayed on well to finish third, just a length and a half behind Waterford Whispers, with the first three clear.
Good Land was a top-class staying novice hurdler two seasons ago. Barry Connell's horse stayed on well to win the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival that year over two miles and six furlongs, and he had excuses for his defeat in the Ballymore Hurdle at Cheltenham that March, for which he was well fancied. He was racing for the first time since on Sunday, and he should be able to build on this now. A 145-rated hurdler after just four runs over the smaller obstacles, he has the potential to be even better over fences. He should progress as he goes out in trip, and he could take a high rank among the top novice chasers this season.
Navan, 7th December 2024
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