Hidden Cyclone

Hidden Cyclone recorded his second win of the season at Gowran Park on Saturday, and he did so impressively on the back of sustained support in the market beforehand.

In a race with no real pace, Andrew McNamara bounced him out and, having disputed it with Ninetieth Minute over the first couple of fence, he assumed the outright lead with a quick jump over the third.  He made all the running from there, travelling well and jumping fluently throughout, and he beat the talented Call The Police fairly comprehensively. He did jump a little out to his left at times, so the return to a left-handed track could bring about even more improvement, and he looked happy bowling along in front, which is certainly no harm at all.

The field had closed up slightly around the home turn, but Shark Hanlon's gelding eased on over the third last with a good jump and, despite shifting to his left over the last two fences, he only had to be nudged out hands and heels from the last to beat the 148-rated Call The Police, to whom he was conceding 4lb, by over four lengths.

This was a good performance.  Always highly-regarded, the Stowaway gelding looked to have plenty left in the tank had he been challenged, and he is really progressing nicely now. He is only seven and this was just his fourth ever chase.  His jumping was good here, he was able to fiddle over well when he got in too tight, and he saw a stride when McNamara asked him to go long, and he should continue to improve.

This all makes him a live Lexus and Hennessy horse, as the smallish fields that those races normally attract should suit him well. He may be dependent on soft ground, so they may he is races more than the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He has only been beaten twice from 11 career runs, once when he was just a neck and half a length behind First Lieutenant and Zaidpour in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle, and once last season when narrowly beaten by Sir Des Champs and Fists Of Fury when the ground may have been quick enough for him. He is really exciting now that he steps up to three miles.

24th November 2012

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