Manhattan Boy

Manhattan Boy ran a nice race on his first run for 136 days in the extended two-mile handicap chase won by Sizing America that opened proceedings at Fairyhouse on Wednesday. Held up out the back in the early stages of the race by Shane Hassett, he was kept widest of all, but he jumped well and travelled well for a long way. He moved up nicely on the outside on the approach to the sixth last, but a slow jump out to his left there saw his momentum checked. He was soon back on an even keel, however, and he made smooth progress up towards the leaders on the outside on the approach to the home turn, when he was one of the leading group of six who had it between them at that point. Wide again in the home straight, he just kept on over the last three fences, never really threatening from the third last, lack of race fitness obviously taking its toll. This was still a nice performance. He appeared to be the third choice of three Edward O'Grady-trained horses in the race, but he still didn't go completely unbacked at 20/1. A progressive two-mile chaser for Philip Hobbs two seasons ago, he was largely disappointing last season, and he fell before the race had started in earnest on his debut for O'Grady at Tipperary in July. His rating of 117 is 8lb lower than his highest rating over hurdles. he could be able to improve significantly on this performance, and he may well be up to landing a decent prize off that mark.

2nd December 2009

Back