Lyreen Legend

Lyreen Legend jumped really well to win on his chasing debut at Galway on Monday, and he is another who could go right to the top as a novice chaser this season.

After disputing the lead with Carry Each Other over the first few fences, Dessie Hughes's horse jumped to the front at the fifth fence and made most of the rest of the running from there. His jumping was accurate, even when he got in too close to a fence he was able to correct himself and negotiate the fence well, and he was good when he met one on a stride. He was headed over the final two fences by Letter Of Credit out wide and he was forced off the inside as Alain Cawley then moved across to the inside himself and Ipsos Du Berlais nipped up the rail, but Bryan Cooper never really looked too anxious. Lyreen Legend was quickly back in front, even before they had straightened for home, and he stayed on well to see off the challenge of the talented Ipsos Du Berlais up the hill.

A high-class novice hurdler last season, the son of Saint Des Saints won a Grade 2 race at Thurles in March and was placed in all his four other runs in graded company, including in the Grade 1 novices' hurdle at Punchestown in April. But because he ran exclusively in Ireland, he may not have been afforded the recognition that he deserved in some quarters, and as such he may be under-rated this season if he were to run in Britain at any point. Given how well he jumped here it is more than possible that he will be even better over fences than he was over hurdles, and it is worth remembering that he is only five, so he should have significant physical improvement to come. He could be very good.

29th October 2012

Back