Invisible Man

Invisible Man took another step forward when he ran out an impressive winner of the two-mile-six-furlong chase at Galway on Tuesday evening.

A winner over hurdles in his native France, the son of Mansonnien looked decidedly unexceptional last season when he was with Tom George, but he seems a different proposition now for Ian Williams. Perhaps he has just strengthened up - he didn't seem to be seeing out his races last season over any distance or on any ground - or perhaps it is down to the different environment, but he has looked very good now in just two runs for Williams. He jumped really well at Market Rasen last month when given a positive ride by Paddy Brennan, and he jumped well again on Tuesday for Barry Geraghty, if a little to his left on occasion, appearing to really appreciate the good ground. He looked like the most likely winner from a long way out, and he stayed on really well up the hill to post an impressive victory.

On the negative side, he was entitled to win this, the race conditions favoured him, he was getting weight from horses that were officially rated his inferior. Also, the race may have fallen apart a little, Classic Frontier and Ninetytwo Team both departed at the sixth, and it was left to Tory Hill Lad, an admirable but thoroughly exposed 11-year-old officially rated 38lb lower than Invisible Man, to whom he was conceding 9lb, to chase him home, but you can only ever beat what they put in front of you, and he did it impressively in a good time, just outside standard.

Not to be confused with the Hunt Cup winner of the same name, Invisible Man was second reserve for the Galway Plate on Wednesday, and he would have got in as it turned out, but Williams obviously decided that Tuesday's race was enough for the week. He will probably get a couple of pounds for this, but the handicapper shouldn't be too harsh, given the fact that he was entitled to win it. He is a half-brother to J'y Vole, he may not just be a summer jumper, and he may be able to realise his true potential now, which is quite significant. He could be a dark one already for the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's November meeting. The distance of that contest would be ideal, he should get into the race with a nice racing weight, and he may be even better left-handed than right-handed. He is only five, and he will be interesting wherever he goes next.

27th July 2010

© The Irish Field, 31st July 2010

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