Louis The Pious

Louis The Pious put up a good performance in his first-time hood to finish second to Glen Moss in the seven-furlong handicap at Haydock on Saturday.

Held up out the back in the early stages of the race, David O'Meara's horse travelled well into the home straight, but it took him a little while to gain full stride after rider Daniel Tudhope started to ask him for his effort at the three-furlong pole. He did start to make his ground from the two-furlong pole but, no better than eighth or ninth at that point, it never really looked like he was going to trouble the leaders. As it happened, he got a lot closer than it looked like he might. He stayed on really strongly through the final furlong to get up for second place, despite having to be switched, and to get to within three parts of a length of the winner Glen Moss.

This was Louis The Pious' first attempt at seven furlongs since November 2012, and he was probably ridden patiently in order to give him every chance of getting the trip. As things turned out, the race was run to suit those who raced handily. The winner, third and fourth occupied three of the first four places at the top of the home straight, and it was difficult for any horse to get into it from the rear, so Louis The Pious did remarkably well to get as close as he did.

On this evidence, seven furlongs could be his optimum trip and, now that his trainer knows that he stays it well, he can be ridden a little closer to the pace next time. The handicapper has raised him 3lb for this, but that still only brings him up to a mark of 99, still 1lb below his peak. Also, this run suggests that he is in the form of his life, and that he can progress again at seven furlongs. He has run poorly at Ascot twice in just three runs, so perhaps the Victoria would not be the best idea in the world. By contrast, he has run well in one attempt at Newmarket's July course, so the Bunbury Cup would be a legitimate medium range target.

26th April 2014

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