Shot From The Hip

There should be a lot more to come from Shot From The Hip after he made his hurdling debut in a two-mile-three-furlong maiden hurdle at Naas on Wednesday. He didn’t seem completely happy on the ground, which was confirmed by his rider Andrew McNamara after the race, and he just seemed to jump his hurdles very carefully. Despite that, the son of Monsun made good ground up to the leaders before the straight and he was still bang there with a chance jumping the last. He couldn’t match Dessie Hughes’s Frisco Depot for pace on the run-in, but he kept on well to take second, beaten just two lengths in the end.

Edward O’Grady’s gelding was sent off a really well-backed favourite in last season’s Champion Bumper, where he just pulled too hard throughout and never settled. He disappointed again in the Punchestown version but he was still a top class bumper horse last season, his performance to beat the very useful Araucaria in a winners' bumper at Leopardstown set him apart as a horse of some potential. He set his own pace in front that day, which was a fast one, and he still had enough in hand to hold off the customary late burst from John Kiely’s mare. There was a lot to like about his debut over hurdles here. The pace was solid, Cottrelsbooley went off in front on his own and it was only Shot From The Hip and Frisco Depot who managed to collar that runner, with the three of them able to pull clear of the rest.

The son of Monsun should be better next time with the benefit of this run, and he should be much better on good ground. He is an exciting recruit to hurdles for this season, he could still be very good and he may be slightly underrated after this defeat.

10th November 2010

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