Serienmond

Serienmond was impressive in winning the first division of the two-mile handicap hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. Settled nicely in midfield early on by Keith Donoghue, it wasn’t ideal that he made a slight mistake at the second last flight just as the pace was starting to increase. He quickly recovered his equilibrium however, and he made good progress among horses as they raced around the home turn. He made good ground up the inside early in the home straight, joined the leaders as they jumped the final flight, and he picked up well on the run-in to come three lengths clear of his rivals by the time he got to the winning line, leaving the impression that he had plenty left to give. It took his rider a little while to pull him up after the winning line.

This was a really nice performance by the Sea The Moon gelding on his first run for Gavin Cromwell. He had some decent form over two and two and a half miles for Tony Mullins, and this was probably a step up on all of that, dropped back down to two miles and fitted with a hood for the first time. He clocked a decent time too, he was almost a second faster than Darcy's Friend was in winning the second division of this contest, and he five seconds faster than the novice hurdle and the maiden hurdle run earlier on the card. The handicapper raised him by 10lb for this win, but you would have expected a hike of that type of magnitude. He is only five, and he is progressive enough to be of interest again in a better race off his new mark of 117. It was his first run since November too, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.

Leopardstown, 2^nd March 2025