Beckett Rock
Beckett Rock did well to finish second in the Careys Cottage Cup at Gowran Park on Saturday. Never too far off the pace that Mount Frisco set, he travelled well into the home straight as he and Slanagaibhgoleir moved on from the early leader. Slanagaibhgoleir moved on as they approached the second last fence, but Beckett Rock rallied bravely and, while he couldn't see off the renewed effort of Mount Frisco, he did get the better of Slanagaibhgoleir for the runner-up spot, despite making a significant error at the final fence.
Rated 137 over hurdles, this was Beckett Rock's first run in a handicap chase and, given a mark of 127 for it, he proved that he was at least up to that type of mark. A 3lb hike takes him up to a mark of 130, but that is still 7lb lower than his hurdles mark, and that makes him potentially well handicapped now over fences. He is only seven and this was just his fourth run over fences, and we know that the Henry de Bromhead horses can go well beyond their hurdles ratings when they start jumping fences. He holds entries in three handicap chases at Cheltenham, and he will be of particular interest if he runs in the Plate or in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase, both over the intermediate trip. His only run at Cheltenham to date was in last year's Coral Cup, in which he stayed on well to take sixth place behind Jimmy Du Seuil, and he will be of interest if he does line up in one of the Cheltenham handicap chases.
Gowran Park, 14th February 2026
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