Samui

Samui stayed on well to win the handicap hurdle run over almost two miles at Thurles on Sunday It didn't look likely for a long way Sent off as favourite, he was towards the rear of the nine-runner field from early He came under a ride as they raced across the top of the track, and he had to go five wide around the home turn But he stayed on strongly down the outside once they straightened up for home, he picked up just about in front at the final flight and he stayed on strongly to win nicely from the fast-finishing Jazzy Matty.

This was Samui's first run since he finished down the field in the Cearewitch at Newmarket in October, and it was his first run over hurdles since the Punchestown Festival in April Gordon Elliott's horse was progressive on the flat during the summer, finishing second behind Extensio in a valuable handicap run over an extended two miles, at York's Ebor meeting in August, and finishing third behind Absurde in a listed race at Chester 10 days later over a mile and six and a half furlongs Winner of the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel as four-year-old, this test, one mile and seven and a half furlongs on goodish ground at Thurles, in a race run at a moderate pace, should have been sharper than ideal for him Rated 104 now on the flat, he was racing off a hurdles mark of 126 on Sunday  The handicapper raised him by 6lb for this win, but a hurdles mark of 132 may still under-rate him He should progress for this run, his first run back after a break, and he should progress again when he steps up in trip over hurdles.
Thurles, 19^th January 2025