Canal End

Canal End stayed on strongly in the end to run out an impressive winner of the feature race at Navan on Saturday, the listed novices' handicap chase run over almost three miles. It took him a little while to warm to his fences and, as a result, he found himself shuffled back in the field from mid-division to the rear by the time they reached the end of the back straight first time. Still towards the rear of the field and widest of all a circuit later, he made some ground into sixth or seventh place as they rounded the home turn. Still only sixth jumping the third last fence, he came under a ride from Mark Walsh on the run to the second last and, while it took him a little while to respond, when he did, he picked up well. He hit the front half-way up the run-in and he stayed on strongly from there to win by four and a half lengths in the end.

This was a really likeable performance by Peter Fahey's horse. He hadn't won since he won his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in April 2023, but he was racing here off a chase mark of 120, 5lb lower than his hurdles mark and, third in a listed handicap hurdle over three miles and one furlong, this was his first foray beyond two and a half miles over fences. The handicapper raised him by 9lb to a mark of 129, but that was fair, he is still only 4lb higher over fences than he is over hurdles, and he remains unexposed over staying trips. He is only seven and this was just his sixth run over fences. He will be of interest in another staying handicap chase now. Maybe the Pat Taaffe Chase at the Punchestown Festival could be the race for him.

Navan, 22^nd March 2025