Jered

Jered ran a nice race to finish third in the two-and-a-half-mile novices' chase at Gowran Park on Thursday on ground that would have been softer than ideal. Settled out the back by AP McCoy, the Noel Meade-trained gelding jumped well out of the ground and turned into the straight in third place behind Orpheus Valley and Tinakelly Lad with every chance. One of four horses who jumped the second last almost in a line, he had no answer to Uimhiraceathair's finishing surge on the far side, and McCoy was easy enough on him on the ground once his winning chance had gone, just pushing him out with hands and heels to finish third.

Jered could be one now for the Jewson Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Rated 154 over hurdles, winner of a Grade 1 contest as a novice and considered good enough to contest the Champion Hurdle last March, he is still rated just 137 over fences. He may not be quite as good over fences as he was over hurdles yet, but all four of his runs over the larger obstacles to date have been on soft or heavy ground. A son of Presenting, he will be much better suited by the better ground that he is almost certain to get at Cheltenham, and he could improve considerably for it. He could have a little bit in hand of the handicapper and, a JP McManus gelding, if he is aimed at the Jewson, he would be of big interest.

21st January 2010

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