Minella Indo
Minella Indo put up a really encouraging performance on his chasing debut to finish second to Laurina in the beginners' chaser over two and a half miles, a distance that is probably a fair way short of his best.
Prominent from early, Henry de Bromhead's horse travelled well, and his jumping was good. He and Laurina moved on at the top of the home straight, but the mare just out-paced him from the third last fence. He couldn't go with her when she picked up, but he kept on well to finish a good second.
Laurina is a top-class mare, her only defeat since she joined Willie Mullins was in the Champion Hurdle last March, when she was sent off the 5/2 second favourite. She may drop down in trip now, but you can argue that this two and a half miles is close to optimum for her. By contrast, Minella Indo is all about stamina. He stayed on well to win the Albert Bartlett Hurdle last March, and he followed up by landing the Grade 1 three-mile novices' hurdle at Punchestown. He reportedly takes a little bit of work to get him there, so he could come on appreciably for this, his seasonal debut. It looks like his Christmas target is the Neville Hotels Novices' Chase over three miles at Leopardstown, and he will be of big interest in that. Looking further ahead, a Cheltenham Festival winner, he should be a big player in the RSA Chase.
Gowran Park, 23rd November 2019
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