Burrows Drive

Burrows Drive was impressive winning the bumper that concluded proceedings at Navan on Saturday. Sent to the front from flagfall by Finny Maguire, he travelled really well through his race, he had a small break on his rivals turning for home. Still travelling well as they raced up the home straight as his rivals started to come under pressure, he wasn't asked for his effort until the approach to the final furlong and, when he was, he picked up impressively. He found as much as it looked like he would find, coming clear of his rivals on the run up the hill, winning by 12 lengths in the end from Ma Jacks Hill, who was 11 lengths clear of the rest.

This was a really likeable performance by Philip Dempsey's horse. He settled nicely in front, he travelled like the most likely winner from a long way out, and he picked up impressively. He led from flagfall, yet he was still faster than all his rivals through each of the last three furlongs, and he was over two seconds faster than his fastest rival through the final half-mile. He has strong back-form too, he finished third behind the high-class novice hurdler Sixandahalf, who has a flat rating of 94, and Grade 2 bumper winner Colcannon on his racecourse debut at Punchestown last April, and he finished second behind the highly-regarded Copacabana on his debut this season at Navan. This was just his third ever run, it was a career-best, and he should be able to go on again from this now. A half-brother to Burrows Diamond, second in last season's Tommy Whittle Chase, and Burrows Edge, a Lanzarote Hurdle winner, he should get further than two miles too. He will be of interest if he runs in a bumper at Punchestown, and he could be an exciting novice hurdler for next season.

Navan, 22^nd March 2025