Jagoes Mills
All the focus before the two-and-a-half-mile beginners' chase at Navan on Sunday was, quite correctly, on main protagonists Cousin Vinny and Roberto Goldback, but Jagoes Mills is worth noting following his fine run to finish third behind that pair. Thomas O'Leary's gelding's jumping was a little ponderous in the early stages, but he did warm to his task, and a good jump in particular at the fourth last took him right up onto the heels of Cousin Vinny, who was himself just beginning to make ground on Roberto Goldback. The top two went toe to toe from the third last, but Jagoes Mills was able to keep tabs on them, and the three of them pulled clear of long-time leader Puddencullinan. He was no more than two lengths behind them jumping the second last, and he kept on really well up the hill under just a hands and heels ride from Davy Russell, to finish no more than four lengths behind Cousin Vinny, who was about the same distance behind Roberto Goldback, with the trio finishing clear of their rivals.
The son of Dr Massini has had tendon trouble, and he is lightly raced for a seven-year-old as a result, but he is a horse with tremendous potential. Fifth in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in 2006 on his hurdling debut, he made all to land his maiden hurdle on heavy ground at Thurles in January 2008 on his second. On his only other run before Sunday, in a hurdle race at Punchestown in February 2008, he moved up nicely on the approach to the second last before fading, finishing lame. He has been off the track since. He has always shaped like a chaser in the making and, as long as he can remain sound, he could go far enough in this sphere. He handles soft ground well and he shapes as if he should stay at least two and a half miles over fences. This was a lovely introduction to chasing, and he should be able to go on from this. He has only raced six times in his life under all codes, and he is an interesting prospect as long as he remains sound.
13th December 2009
© The Irish Field, 19th December 2009
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All the focus before the two-and-a-half-mile beginners' chase at Navan on Sunday was, quite correctly, on main protagonists Cousin Vinny and Roberto Goldback, but Jagoes Mills is worth noting following his fine run to finish third behind that pair. Thomas O'Leary's gelding's jumping was a little ponderous in the early stages, but he did warm to his task, and a good jump in particular at the fourth last took him right up onto the heels of Cousin Vinny, who was himself just beginning to make ground on Roberto Goldback. The top two went toe to toe from the third last, but Jagoes Mills was able to keep tabs on them, and the three of them pulled clear of long-time leader Puddencullinan. He was no more than two lengths behind them jumping the second last, and he kept on really well up the hill under just a hands and heels ride from Davy Russell, to finish no more than four lengths behind Cousin Vinny, who was about the same distance behind Roberto Goldback, with the trio finishing clear of their rivals.
The son of Dr Massini has had tendon trouble, and he is lightly raced for a seven-year-old as a result, but he is a horse with tremendous potential. Fifth in the Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in 2006 on his hurdling debut, he made all to land his maiden hurdle on heavy ground at Thurles in January 2008 on his second. On his only other run before Sunday, in a hurdle race at Punchestown in February 2008, he moved up nicely on the approach to the second last before fading, finishing lame. He has been off the track since. He has always shaped like a chaser in the making and, as long as he can remain sound, he could go far enough in this sphere. He handles soft ground well and he shapes as if he should stay at least two and a half miles over fences. This was a lovely introduction to chasing, and he should be able to go on from this. He has only raced six times in his life under all codes, and he is an interesting prospect as long as he remains sound.
13th December 2009
© The Irish Field, 19th December 2009
Back