Tout Est Permis
Tout Est Permis did well to win the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase. The Gigginstown House horse was probably competing over a distance that was short of his optimum, and he made a bad mistake at the second last fence in the back straight. He did well to stand up, and Sean Flanagan did well to keep the partnership intact. Also, he was taking on a rival in Sub Lieutenant who is high-class on his day, who is at his best on the goodish ground that he had here, and who loves Thurles. In three prior visits there, Henry de Bromhead's horse had won a bumper and the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Hurdle, and he had finished second to subsequent Gold Cup winner Sizing John in this race in 2017. It didn't look like Tout Est Permis was going to catch Sub Lieutenant as they jumped the second last fence, but Noel Meade's horse stayed on really well from there, and just got up on the line to win by a short head.
Tout Est Permis is now three from three since he joined Noel Meade. Winner of a handicap chase at Galway in October on his debut for his new trainer off a mark of 128, he made light of a 10lb hike for that in winning the Troytown Chase at Navan convincingly. This was another step forward, especially given that conditions were not in his favour. He will do even better with a greater stamina test, either easier ground or a longer trip or both. He could be a lively outsider for the Gold Cup. He is only six, and we probably haven't seen the best of him yet.
Thurles, 20th January 2019
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