Soviet Pimpernel

Soviet Pimpernel ran out an impressive winner of the bumper. Settled in mid-division early on by Barry O'Neill and towards the outside, he made nice progress towards the end of the back straight, and he moved up nicely, travelling well, as they rounded the home turn. He moved easily to the front with The Little Yank and, when his rider asked him to go and win his race, the response was impressive. He came nicely away from The Little Yank, who was in turn clear of Wavelength, who ran on nicely to take third place.

There was a lot to like about this performance from Peter Fahey's horse. He travelled like the most likely winner from a long way out, and he picked up nicely and willingly when Barry O'Neill asked him to. There is substance to it too. The runner-up is a well-regarded horse of John Ryan's, and he was nicely backed, while the third horse Wavelength came out and won a bumper at Roscommon last Monday, and the first three were clear.

This was Soviet Pimpernel's third run. His first two runs, in bumpers at Leopardstown and Thurles last March, both of which worked out well, were promising, and this was a good step forward from those, in a first-time visor. A full-brother to the talented mare Elusive Belle, his trainer said that he wanted nice ground, so he may not be one for the depths of winter, but he could make up into a talented novice hurdler this season. He could embark on his hurdling career at Gowran Park on Friday.

Listowel, 10^th September 2019

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