Never Enough Time

The Tom Foley-trained Never Enough Time was a most impressive winner of the two-mile handicap hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday, and he can progress again from this. A 10lb hike is not unsubstantial, but there is a chance that even 10lb under-estimates the quality of the performance added to his potential for progression.

Held up in mid-division by Ger Fox in the early stages of the race, he moved up nicely on the run around the home turn from the second last flight to the last, tracked Blacklough down to the last, jumped that flight well and picked up really impressively to catch and pass the leader before running away from him, putting four lengths between himself and his pursuer by the time they reached the winning line.

It was a high-class performance. Runner-up Blacklough was well-fancied and well-backed, and he moved smoothly through the race before taking it up on the run to the last. He would have been an impressive winner were it not for the presence of Never Enough Time in the race.

This was another step forward from JP McManus' horse. He had been impressive in winning a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park on his previous run, just two and a half weeks previously, off a mark of 116. He was raised 14lb for that win, but he made light of that here, as the market suggested he might. Another 10lb for Sunday's win means that he is now rated 140, 24lb higher than he was when he won at Gowran less than a month ago, but it does not appear as if we have reached the bottom of his ability yet.

He is simply a seriously progressive individual now. He won just one of his first eight races over hurdles, and now he has won his last two. He should be able to progress again, and he deserves a shot at one of the big handicap hurdles now. Interestingly, Tennis Cap, who won this race last year, went to Cheltenham and finished second to Ted Veale in the County Hurdle off a mark that was 14lb higher than the mark off which he won the Leopardstown race.

9th February 2014

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