Masaccio

Masaccio

12th-Apr-2025

I am backing Masaccio here.  I think that he is over-priced, stepping back up in trip.

Alan King’s horse kept on well to finish third behind Jagwar in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham’s January meeting, when he shaped like he would benefit from a step back up in trip.  But instead of going for the Ultima Chase at the Cheltenham Festival over three miles, he was fitted with cheekpieces and tried in the Plate over two and a half when, again he finished third, again behind Jagwar, again leaving the impression that he would do better over further.

He just got out-paced when they quickened, before keeping on up the hill.  

It is a slight worry that he has been beaten in each of his attempts over three miles, once over hurdles at this meeting last year.  But he finished last of 10, on soft ground. It wasn’t his running.  And he came home without one of his shoes.  You can easily allow him that.

His second attempt at the trip was in the Kauto Star Chase at Kempton at Christmas, but he didn’t look happy from early in that race.  It is unlikely that it was a lack of stamina that was his undoing.

He goes well at Cheltenham, but he goes well at Newbury too, which is, like Ayr, a flat, left-handed galloping track.  He goes well on goodish ground, and the cheekpieces that were on for the first time last time are retained, which is a positive.  He put up a career-best performance last time, and that was just his fifth run over fences, so there is every chance that he will progress again now.

MASACCIO WON (ADV 13/2, SP 10/1)