Lucky William

Lucky William was desperately unlucky not to win his beginners' chase at Tipperary on Tuesday. Strong in the market beforehand, the All My Dreams gelding jumped well for Bryan Cooper, especially down the back straight, and he travelled well in front at the top of the home straight. He was still on the bridle going to the second last with his ears pricked, he had Bremen flat to the boards just behind him and the pair of them were clear, only for him to fall at the second last. You had to feel sorry for him and for connections, because he actually jumped the fence well, he probably jumped it too well, over-jumped just a little and crumpled on landing, leaving the Paul Flynn-trained Bremen to come home six lengths clear of his rivals.

This was a good beginners' chase. Bremen was a good hurdler who has an all-weather flat rating of 106, while the second, third and fourth in the race are all rated in the high 120s over hurdles. Lucky William is rated slightly higher over hurdles. A dual bumper winner, he wasn't beaten all that far by Peddler's Cross in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade 2 novices' hurdle at Aintree's Grand National meeting. Despite being beaten well into sixth, that was a valiant effort from Tom Cooper’s horse. It was a huge step up in class and he was encountering fast conditions for the first time over hurdles, but he travelled nicely throughout and he was bang there with a chance when they came to the third last before fading, the extra half-mile probably not helping, even though he did win a bumper over two miles and three furlongs. He won his maiden hurdle at Navan over two miles, and he was second in a Grade 2 hurdle on his next start over the same course and distance. Most of his form has been on soft ground, but he that Naas bumper win was achieved on good ground last October, and he is pacey enough to be effective on good ground. He is an exciting chaser in the making. He is still only six, he jumps fences well, he has the scope for chasing, and he should be winning his beginners' chase soon before stepping up in class.

5th October 2010

© The Irish Field, 9th October 2010

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