Breedsbreeze

Breedsbreeze may well have won the rescheduled Peterborough Chase last Wednesday at Newbury if his stablemate Twist Magic hadn’t fallen at the second last (fatally so) when upsides. It was Breedsbreeze’s first run in 22 months and, after he was left by himself out in front, he pricked his ears and seemed to idle, allowing Tartak to get back up to him and go on and win it by half a length. Even though Twist Magic was yet to be asked for maximum effort, he had shown repeatedly in the past that he didn’t even stay a strongly run two miles on a stiff track and so the two-mile-four-furlong trip here on a big galloping track may have found him out. Alas, we will never know for sure - the demise of such a talented horse is hugely regrettable.

Tartak had clearly benefited from his run in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree and was able to just wear down the gallant Breedsbreeze near the line. It was a most encouraging effort nonetheless from the Paul Nicholls-trained Breedsbreeze; he showed his class when moving into contention nearing the end of the back straight having put in a slow leap half way down the back and lost some ground and when moving past Tartak approaching the third last. It was only his 11th lifetime start under rules despite the fact that he is rising nine, and there remains a good deal of potential in him. It may be that he will be better suited returning to an easy three miles rather than the two-and-a-half-mile distance of this contest.

The only two blemishes in his career came in the Ballymore at Cheltenham in 2008, which came slightly early in his career, and when falling at Ascot on his run prior to his long layoff before this run. He jumped quite deliberately early on here, understandably so, but soon warmed back into the swing of things and despite that mistake down the back, jumped around the final circuit very well. He will be of utmost interest next time out as long as he remains sound. He is still lightly-raced, and there could be a fair bit more to come.

15th December 2010

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