Sa Suffit

Sa Suffit put up a really nice performance to win a two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase at Wetherby on Saturday. James Ewart's gelding didn’t jump at all well early on, perhaps because he didn’t get to lead, there were plenty of front-runners in the race, and he looked in trouble running up the home straight first time. However, he warmed to his task towards the end of the back straight, moved powerfully around the home turn and stayed on well up the home straight. A mistake by long-time leader Battlecry at the second last aided his cause, but such was the strength with which he finished it is difficult to believe that he wouldn't have won anyway. He stayed this 2m 4f trip really well, and left the impression that he will get even further, so strongly did he finish.

A winner of a decent contest over two miles at Haydock in November, he shaped here as if he would appreciate a step up again in trip. He didn't appear to be comfortable going the pace in the early stages, and his jumping suffered as a result, but he finished stronger than anything. It would be worthwhile trying him over three miles now - he did win a two-and-a-quarter-mile hurdle on very soft ground as a three-year-old in his native France, and he has strengthened up since he was beaten by Chief Dan George over two miles six and a half furlongs at Kelso last March - and his trainer is apparently thinking of doing that. The handicapper raised him 8lb for this, which is a little harsh on the face of it, but he is only seven, he is still progressive, and he could progress again for stepping up in trip. He may run in the William Hill at Cheltenham, but I would be more interested in his chances in the big three-mile handicap chase at Aintree. He was a bit disappointing on his only try at Cheltenham, last December (although it may have all happened a little quickly for him that day over a two-mile trip with a clutch of front-runners in the race), and he may be better on a flat track. His best runs in the UK have been at Haydock and Wetherby, both left-handed flat tracks, like Aintree.

6th February 2010

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