Get Me Out Of Here

Get Me Out Of Here was a most impressive winner of the two-mile handicap hurdle at Newbury on Friday, much more impressive than the winning margin suggests. Settled out the back in the early stages by Richie McLernon off a sedate enough pace, he was a little sketchy over a couple of hurdles in the early stages of the race, but he still moved well throughout. Moving up noticeably well on the far side in the home straight, his rider was happy to sit three or four lengths off the leaders after jumping the third last, apparently happy that he would be able to pick them up, which he duly did. His jumping got better when the pace increased, and he was flawless over the final three flights. There were several horses apparently travelling well going to the third last, but this JP McManus gelding oozed quality and found most. He moved up nicely between the final two flights in behind the leader Lepido, jumped the last a half a length down, and quickened nicely on the run-in under no more than a hands and heels drive - in fact it was hardly even a drive - to go away and win really impressively, giving the impression that he had plenty more to give.

McLernon wasn't too effusive in his praise of the Accordion gelding in his post-race interview, but you suspect that he was mindful of the fact that the handicapper may be watching, because everything about this performance smacked of quality. He has now won all four of his starts, one bumper and three hurdle races, and he leaves the impression that he is improving with each run, each of his wins looking more impressive than the previous one. He raced off a mark of 123 here, which didn't overface him on his handicap debut. The handicapper will have his say now, but he is progressive enough to take a fair hike in his stride, and he deserves his place in one of the big two-mile handicap hurdles now. The fast pace of these big handicaps and the big field should see him in an even better light. He is by Accordion and he is a lovely mover, so he probably wouldn't want the ground to be too soft, but good to soft ground is ideal. He is still only five, and he is a really exciting prospect.

26th November 2009

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