Some Slam

Some Slam put up a really nice performance to make all in the opening two-mile maiden hurdle at Naas on Wednesday. Sent to the front from flagfall by Slippers Madden, his jumping off this yielding ground was fast and fluent, and he had all of his rivals in big trouble from the top of the home run, still on the bridle. He jumped the second last well and picked up nicely between the final two flights. His closest pursuer, warm favourite Sweet My Lord, a debutant for Willie Mullins who had won a French bumper on his only previous start, fell at the last, but he wouldn't have troubled the leader a jot, and Paul Duffin's gelding ran on well up the run-in to score handsomely.

Some Slam obviously appreciated this goodish ground, he seemed to bounce off it. An impressive winner of his bumper on his racecourse debut at Listowel last September, when he had Summit Meeting - who had already run in two bumpers - eight lengths behind in second place, he had been fairly disappointing in his two bumpers since but he did shape with a deal of promise when fourth behind Grey Soldier on his debut over hurdles at Naas last month. All three of those runs were during the winter on deep winter ground. Last Wednesday was the first time since Listowel in September that he raced on ground that was faster than soft, and he seemed to appreciate it. The Tom Mullins-trained gelding does hold an entry in Tuesday's Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and he was confirmed for it at the five-day stage on Wednesday before he had run here, which is a measure of the regard in which connections hold him. While he shouldn't really be beating Dunguib, he probably shouldn't be a 100/1 shot either, although the race may come a little soon for him after this. Even if he misses Cheltenham, he should be a player in one of the good novice hurdles at Aintree or Punchestown later in the season. He is an exciting prospect wherever he goes next.

10th March 2010

© The Irish Field, 13th March 2010

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