Ordinary World
You couldn't see too much through the fog at Punchestown last Sunday, but insofar as you could see Ordinary World in the Craddockstown Chase, he looked impressive. Leading from flagfall, the Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding was chased by his higher-profile stable companion Identity Thief throughout, but his jumping appeared to be very good, and he was able to lead last year's Fighting Fifth Hurdle winner until the run to the final fence. And even after he had been passed, Chris Jones' horse kept on all the way to the line to go down by just a length.
Even the bare form of this run is impressive. Ordinary World is rated 39lb lower than Identity Thief over fences, and he was meeting him on level terms on Sunday, so to run him to one length was a massive effort. As well as that, Identity Thief was really impressive in winning his beginners' chase over Sunday's course and distance in October, and it was reasonable that he was sent off a long odds-on shot for Sunday's race.
Ordinary World himself was impressive in winning on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse in early October. Always prominent that day, he jumped well and he beat another stable companion Attribution (who also completed a de Bromhead 1-2-3 in the Craddockstown Chase on Sunday) by four lengths, which could have been more. Sunday's run was another step forward from that.
The Milan gelding's hurdling career tailed off a little disappointingly last season, but it looks already as if he will make up into a better chaser than hurdler. He is only six, he has raced just twice over fences, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next. He could be a horse to keep in mind for the big two-mile handicap chases in the spring, races like the Grand Annual and the Red Rum Chase.
20th November 2016
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