Changing Times

Changing Times can be marked up a fair bit on his effort when finishing third to So Young in a two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Leopardstown on Lexus Chase day. Baily Green set the pace, and Changing Times was the only one to chase it from the early stages. He jumped to his right throughout, but he still picked up well to take over from Baily Green just as they began to make the turn out of the back straight. It was clear that So Young was travelling much better than anything else at the second last, and the result was in no doubt as Willie Mullins’s horse hit the front, but there was still a lot to like about the way Changing Times stuck at it and kept on well to finish third.

This was a valiant effort from Oliver McKiernan’s gelding. He seemed to be unsuited by going left-handed here and he ended up giving away a lot of ground by hanging out to the right throughout. He also chased the fast early pace, which was much too quick in the tiring conditions, which was illustrated by how quickly Baily Green dropped out before he fell at the second last. Given all this, Changing Times did well to finish as close as he did to the winner, who could be very useful indeed. The son of Dr Massini improved his first run this season behind Zaidpour to finish close to another useful Willie Mullins horse in Bishopfurze at Limerick on his previous run, and this was another improved effort. He will be interesting next time on a right-handed track and perhaps ridden with more restraint. This race is likely to be all about the impressive So Young, so he could be under the radar a little.

28th December 2010

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