Warden Hill

Warden Hill put up a good performance to go as close as he did in the three-mile handicap hurdle at Bangor on Saturday, and he could be worth following now as the ground improves.

Heavenstown led from flagfall, but it looked as though Warden Hill had his measure when he closed in on him on the run to the second last flight. Indeed, Mick Channon's horse joined the long-time leader on the run to the last, and he may well have gone a head up on landing over it, but Heavenstown battled back admirably on the far side and went on to win by a neck.

This was still a big effort from Warden Hill. He was conceding 13lb to the winner, 18lb if you include Nico de Boinville's claim, and he almost beat him. The race was run at a solid pace, the winning time was good, and the front two pulled away from Templebraden in the end, and he was clear of the remainder.

This was just Warden Hill's ninth ever run, his eighth over hurdles, and he continues to progress. He is a second-season novice, but he is still only six, and he has progressed with each of his five runs this term. He beat the useful Drop Out Joe on his penultimate run before Saturday, and he finished third behind good staying novices Urban Hymn and Blakemount on his final run before Saturday at Doncaster on ground that should have been softer than ideal for him.

By Presenting, he has a nice progressive profile, and he should improve again now for the better spring ground. Three miles is his trip, and he will be of interest now if he lines up on goodish ground at any of the spring festivals.

22nd March 2014

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