Rebeccas Choice

Rebeccas Choice ran a most encouraging race to finish second behind the exciting Qaspal in a good novices' handicap hurdle at Sandown on Friday. Sent off just behind the leaders and towards the outside, the Religiously gelding jumped well and travelled easily down the back straight, but he had to be ridden along rounding the home turn. He was one of the only horses off the bridle at the top of the home straight, but he did continue to find for pressure. He was fairly badly hampered on the run to the second last, when Mrs Fawlty came across him, and he was shuffled back to eighth spot, about six lengths behind the leader. From there, he stayed on really well over the last two flights. He was never going to catch the winner but, despite getting in tight to the last, he stayed on really well up the hill to catch Regal Approach for the runner-up spot.

A 3lb hike for this looks reasonable, he wouldn't have been at all suited by the sedate early pace, and he will be better when he steps back up in trip to three miles or if he gets a stronger pace over two and a half.

19th February 2010

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