Certainly Red

Certainly Red kept on well to finish third in the London Gold Cup at Sandown on Saturday. His jumping was a little sticky on occasion, not helped by the loose horse at a couple of his obstacles. He came under a ride on the run around the home turn, but he stuck to his task well, keeping on up the hill to finish third, and that was after getting in tight to the last as well. He kept on admirably up the hill, confirming that this extreme trip held no fears for him.

Lydia Richards' horse is nine now rising 10, he is not obviously unexposed, but there could still be more to come from him over marathon trips. Also, all his chase form is at right-handed tracks, yet he jumps to his left. He has only run in one chase going left-handed, in a handicap chase at Lingfield in November last year, when he was brought down early. He could improve now for going left-handed, and racing over a marathon trip again. He appears to be versatile in terms of ground conditions. He is not in the Welsh National, but the Edinburgh National at Musselburgh in early February could be a race for him, or the Eider Chase at Newcastle in late February.

Sandown, 9^th December 2023

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