Powersbomb

Powersbomb was unlucky again in the two-mile handicap chase at Leopardstown last Sunday.

A faller at the final fence when in front in a handicap chase at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, he was travelling well here in the front rank when he made a bad mistake at the second last fence. Quickly back on an even keel for Mikey Fogarty, he picked up again around the home turn, and it still looked like he was going to prevail when he hit the front again on the run-in, but he was just done in the final strides by Elusive Ivy.

It was another big run from Brian McMahon's horse. He was two lengths clear at the last in the race at Christmas when he came down, he probably would have won, and the third horse from that race, Ball D'Arc, ran out an impressive winner of the valuable Dan Moore Memorial Chase at Fairyhouse on his next run. Powersbomb was raised 5lb by the handicapper for that performance, the same as the winner Lake Takapuna, but he proved on Sunday that he was well able for his new mark of 128.

The handicapper raised him another 2lb for Sunday's run, but that is fair. He probably would have won had he not made that bad mistake at the second last fence. It is easy to argue that that cost him at least the head by which he was beaten. Also, he raced aggressively on Sunday, as is his wont, up with the pace, in a race in which the winner and the third came from the rear.

It was a decent race, and the only runner who has emerged from it since, fifth-placed Samanntom, won well at Clonmel on Thursday.

Powersbomb has had plenty of racing of late, Sunday's run was his 11th run since last April, but he has raced just four times over fences. He is already a far better chaser than hurdler, but he still has scope to progress as a chaser. He is only seven. Also, he could progress for a step up to two and a quarter or two and a half miles, given that he stayed that trip over hurdles. He is still a horse who should be kept on side.

29^th January 2017

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