Peveril

The Nicky Henderson-trained Peveril did well to finish third to the highly progressive Grands Crus in the three-mile fixed brush handicap hurdle at Haydock on Saturday on ground that had probably gone too soft for him. He travelled well through the race, he jumped the mini fences well, and he was one of just a handful of horses with a chance at the end of the back straight. He struggled from that point, however, as the ground and possible lack of peak fitness began to take its toll and Grands Crus and Barafundle went on, but he still kept on determinedly up the home straight to retain third spot.

These brush hurdles races are good stepping stones to chasing, and it is significant that Peveril's connections sent out Burton Port to finish second to Diamond Harry in this race last year. Burton Port rarely received the recognition that he is due, but the form book says that he was one of last season's top staying novice chasers, given that he went on to finish second in the RSA Chase and to win the Mildmay Chase at Aintree. Peveril finished fourth in the Martin Pipe Hurdle at last season's Cheltenham Festival on just his fourth ever run over hurdles, he is still just six and he is really lightly raced. He is progressive, he stayed two and a half miles well last season and there is every chance that the step up to three miles now will bring about further improvement. The plan is apparently to go chasing now, and he could make up into a high class staying chaser. He should be seen to even better effect on better ground.

20th November 2010

© The Irish Field, 27th November 2010

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