Supercede

The Gordon Elliott-trained Supercede ran a cracker to finish a close second to Aiteen Thirtythree in the Ruby Walsh – The Autobiography Novices’ Hurdle, run over three miles one and a half furlongs at Cheltenham on Saturday. Held up out the back, last of the main bunch for much of the final circuit, he made mistakes at the eighth and ninth flights, yet he still made smooth progress down the hill and came there to take it up after the last, looking by far the more likely winner (he traded at 1.16 in-running) before he seemed to just jink or hang fire for some reason. Ruby Walsh was very keen to swing wide into the straight on Aiteen Thirtythree, with the result that Paul Carberry had to switch to go inside him up the centre of the track and it may be that if Supercede had had the rail, he would have won. The two of them finished clear, which in all probability they would have done even if there hadn’t been two casualties at the second last as the two who departed were both being ridden along at the time while the front two had not been asked for anything yet.

This was without doubt a career-best from Supercede on his 16th start over hurdles. Aiteen Thirtythree is very highly regarded by the Nicholls team and is thought of as one of their best staying novice chase prospects this season. To get so close to him, bearing in mind Supercede was giving him 8lb is a first rate effort. Supercede has clearly improved for the step up to three miles and beyond, he seems versatile with regards the ground, and a 2lb hike to a mark of 124 leaves him on a mark that his astute trainer should be well able to exploit.

16th October 2010

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