Hartur D'Arc
Hartur D'Arc ran out an impressive winner of the Leinster National at Naas on Sunday. He travelled like the most likely winner from a long way out, he moved on with Positive Thinker on the run between the final two fences, and he stayed on well up the hill for Sean Flanagan to get home by a length and a half in the end, with the first two clear.
Gavin Cromwell's horse's stamina for this trip of three miles and one furlong was unproven, but he saw it out well. Winner of his maiden hurdle for Tom Gibney last summer, this was just his fourth chase, so he has plenty of potential for progression now over fences. He will get a hike from the handicapper for this of course, but he appeared to win with plenty in hand, he is unexposed over fences and over staying trips, and he will be of interest again even off his new mark. His trainer mentioned the Irish National as a potential next step, and that makes lots of sense. Abolitionist won the Leinster National in 2017 and finished third in the Irish National next time behind Our Duke off an 8lb higher mark. Hartur D'Arc was only just beaten in a novice chase at Galway too in October, he could be a Galway Plate-type horse as well or instead.
Naas, 10th March 2024
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