Blue Mosque

Cardcounter was impressive in winning the two-mile-six-and-a-half-furlong novices' hurdle at Navan on Saturday on just his third run over hurdles, and he is almost certainly a horse for the future too, but the quality of Blue Mosque's run in finishing second behind him may have gone at least a little under the radar. She jumped off towards the rear of the field, fifth of the six runners, she was about seven or eight lengths behind Cardcounter passing the starting line. The pace was not strong, Cardcounter enjoyed an easy time of it in front, as Blue Mosque shared the final position with All For Rachel. She travelled well through her race though for Donagh Meyler, and, still fifth of the six runners rounding the home turn as the field concertinaed, she travelled best of all between the final two flights, which is probably around about the point at which she traded at 1.16 in-running. She wasn't great at the final flight then and, in the end, Cardcounter battled back bravely on the far side to see off her challenge, but she kept on well to finish a good second, almost two lengths clear of Butch Cassidy in third.

This was another step forward by Noel Meade's mare. Winner of her maiden over two and a half miles at Cork in November, she went into this race with a rating of 120, she was the lowest-rated horse in the race by a fair way, receiving just 7lb from horses who were rated over a stone superior, but she proved that she belonged in this grade. Also, the sedate pace did not suit her hold-up style of racing. To put it into context, she was fastest of all through the final four furlongs, over a half a second faster than the winner, recording a finishing speed of over 114% of overall speed.

It may be too that this trip just stretched her stamina beyond its limit, she was slower than the winner through the final furlong, and that a drop back to two and a half miles could see her in an even better light. She is only five and this was just her fifth run over hurdles, she has plenty of scope for further progression, and she will be of interest wherever she goes now between now and the end of the season. A 7lb hike for this takes her up to a mark of 127, but that is a mark that may still under-rate her ability. There is a listed two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, and she might sneak in at the bottom of the handicap for that, if connections decided to aim her at that race now.

Navan, 22^nd March 2025