Bright Forecast
Bright Forecast did well to finish third behind Mister Fisher in the Grade 2 Rossington Main Hurdle. Sent to the front from flagfall by David Bass, he hung towards the stable gate after they passed the winning post first time. Ben Pauling's horse gave away lots of ground and momentum by moving to the outside of the track. David Bass did well to get him going again, and to retain the lead, but he had to have expended plenty of energy just to maintain the status quo. He made a significant mistake at the fourth last flight too, which didn't help, especially given that he was taking on a really highly regarded horse in Mister Fisher. He ceded the lead to Nicky Henderson's horse at the second last flight, but he battled on really well even after he had been headed. He went down by just two and a half lengths in the end to the winner, the pair of them nicely clear, in a race that was run in a good time.
This was just his third run under Rules and his third run over hurdles. He sprang a 20/1 shock on his hurdling debut at Newbury at the end of November, when he did well to get back up to win after making a bad mistake at the final flight, and he followed up by making all to land a novices' contest at Leicester after Christmas. Saturday's run was another step forward and he can continue to progress. There is plenty of stamina in his pedigree, his dam is a half-sister to Southern Vic, a Grade 1 winner over three miles for Ted Walsh. He will be of interest if he takes up his entry in the Dovecote Hurdle at Kempton this Saturday, but he shapes as if he could do even better if and when he steps up in trip.
Haydock, 19th January 2019
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