Dedigout

Dedigout put up a really likeable performance to win the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown last Friday. He travelled and jumped well towards the rear of the field, and he did really well to sidestep Jenari when that one fell at the third last flight. That left Dedigout right in behind horses and a little boxed in around the home turn, however, as Colour Squadron made ground up on the outside. Dedigout looked in trouble early in the home straight as Lyreen Legend and Colour Squadron moved to the front, both travelling well, but Davy Russell pushed Dedigout up between them approaching the final flight, the horse jumped the last well and landed with the most momentum of the four who jumped it together, and he stayed on strongly to draw two lengths clear at the line.

Tony Martin’s gelding has always been highly regarded, he was sent off favourite for each of his four runs over hurdles prior to this run, including the Grade 2 Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas in January, having won his first two in good style. He had stayed on really well to win a handicap at Fairyhouse over Easter over two and three quarter miles, so it was likeable how well he was able to travel when he was dropped back down two furlongs in trip here. The tongue-tie that he has worn for his latest two runs seems to have helped him, he handles this soft ground well and he is a real chaser in the making. He should be a really exciting staying novice chaser next season. Strangely, he isn’t even quoted for next year’s RSA Chase at this stage, but he is surely an RSA Chase horse now, as long as he can handle better ground. He was second in a point-to-point on yielding ground, and it was good to soft when he won at Fairyhouse, so there is definite hope that he will cope with decent ground next season. He is another cracking chasing prospect for his owners Gigginstown House Stud.

27th April 2012

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