Osirixamix

Osirixamix looked good when making the perfect start to his chasing career, in a two-mile-one-furlong beginners chase at Limerick on Wednesday. Tony Martin’s gelding jumped and travelled really well and was up there with the leading trio throughout. He went on just as they went past the stands, but dropped back in behind favourite Big Secret and Koshere King down the back straight. It was clear turning into the straight, however, that the son of Desert Prince was travelling best of all. He popped the last two fences nicely, and picked up after the last to quickly put eight lengths between himself and the staying-on Healy’s Bar in second.

Osirixamix is an eight-year-old, but there has been a marked improvement in his form since connections changed his running style two runs ago to let him race more handily. That style saw him take a decent handicap hurdle at Cork on his previous run back in December, and the runner-up that day, Fool’s Wildcat, has since came out and won a decent novices' hurdle at Leopardstown. Tony Martin’s gelding looks built to be a chaser, and on this evidence he could be a very smart recruit to fences. He was much too good here for Healy's Bar and Big Secret, who looked sure to win on his chasing debut at Thurles when he came down at the last.

Osirixamix was winning on a heavy surface here, but good ground shouldn’t inconvenience him, his sole win on the flat came on a decent surface at Fairyhouse. He was competitive over a mile and a half on the flat so he could stay further than this two-mile trip over fences. He is exciting.

26th January 2011

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