Chil The Kite

Chil The Kite is a really progressive three-year-old and although he was beaten on Saturday in the Listed Superior Mile at Haydock, he took the eye again.

Held up in a share of last place off what was initially a strong pace set by Rockinante for the first three furlongs, he closed up as Richard Hughes steadied the tempo on the leader passing halfway, but then he just got caught out a little as they picked up again coming inside the final quarter of a mile. Still only sixth a furlong from home, Hughie Morrison's horse closed all the way to the line to finish fourth, narrowly missing out on third. The right horses were ahead of him, Thistle Bird, Fulbright and Boom And Bust, the last-named pair having raced close to the pace, and the winner having moved up when the pace lifted again.

Chil The Kite is held in high regard by Morrison, and he had been strong in the market all day for this. Although he wasn’t well positioned through the race, and that counted against him, it is also possible that he will come on for this as he had been off for seven weeks since his previous run.

He had shown a terrific turn of foot on his previous two wins to score at Doncaster and then Ascot, both on good ground, and it is possible that the really fast ground at Haydock was a little too quick for him. He is by Notnowcato, who, although it’s early days, seems to have imparted a liking for easy ground to a lot of his progeny, and Chil The Kite could be better away from a rattling quick surface. He showed a likeable attitude here to finish as close as he did, and it is likely that he is still a fair bit better than his current handicap mark. He could well be a Cambridgeshire horse if Morrison decides to aim him at that, the combination of a strong pace, a step up to nine furlongs, and easier ground should suit him really well. The Cambridgeshire had closed before this race, so the 5lb hike with which the handicapper rewarded him for this performance would not be taken into account if he did run in the race. He would be 5lb well-in and would be a big player.

8th September 2012

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