Minella Indo

Minella Indo didn't impress everybody with the performance that he put up in beating Captain Cj in the three-mile beginners' chase, but there was a lot to like about the performance. His jumping was good and, when Captain Cj challenged him between the last two fences, he picked up well for Rachael Blackmore, he jumped the last well and he stayed on strongly up the hill to the line.

This was just Minella Indo's second run of the season, and his second chase. He shaped nicely over two and a half miles, a trip that was on the sharp side for him, on his seasonal debut at Gowran Park, and this was a nice step forward from that. And the form has already been enhanced by Captain Cj, who came out next time and won the Grade 2 Ten Up Chase. He improved with racing last season over hurdles, he got better as he got into the season. He went to Cheltenham a maiden, yet he won the Albert Bartlett Hurdle, he sprang a 50/1 shock, despite the fact that he was in front from a long way out. That will stand to him when, all going well, he goes back to Cheltenham next month for the RSA Chase, and he is a massive player in that race.

Navan, 18^th January 2020

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