Organisateur

Organisateur did very well to finish second to James De Vassy in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday given the way he veered badly left at the second last, which saw him drop from first to sixth. The winner put in the sort of performance he has threatened to for a while in a big field handicap.

Organisateur, racing off top weight, was settled towards the inside halfway down the field but got much closer starting out on the final circuit having been short of racing room around the first turn. He was niggled along a little at halfway but had just about taken it up at the time of his wayward antics at the second last. He lost four or five lengths and five or so places but stayed on once he was back on an even keel. On this evidence, he could probably do with being stepped up in trip and could also benefit from being held onto for longer.

This was a big effort off top weight, especially at a time when Paul Nicholls's horses may not have been going so well. Kauto Star, The Nightingale, Escort'men, Like Minded all under-performed on this day, and Organisateur was weak in the market, his presence in the race off top weight ensuring that the weights were kept low - he was 6lb clear of the next highest-rated horse - which was no hindrance to his stable companion Like Minded.

Organisateur has now gone up 31lb this season alone having put in five very consistent performances. Actually, he has only been out of the first two once in eight runs since he joined Nicholls from France, his one sub-par performance coming in a good race at Ascot just four days after he had won at Taunton. The way he was niggled along at a couple of stages of this race suggests he may be able to find yet more improvement up in trip. He would be interesting if he took his chance in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham next Saturday, and his entry in the World Hurdle may not be a complete waste of money. He is still on the upgrade, although clearly has a slightly quirky side to him.

15th January 2011

Back