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JLT MELLING CHASE GRADE 1 – REVIEW

Fox Norton

6th April 2017 – April – This was a superb performance and put to bed any doubts about his ability to stay this extra distance. It may be that this fast ground is really important to him especially when trying a longer trip. He beat a very good horse in second place that has only been beaten by high quality horses this season. Talk of the King George is understandable though quite how he would cope with three miles and winter good to soft ground may be open to question. When playing the races side by side from Fox Norton’s first fence he was a couple of lengths behind Might Bite entering the home straight but was well in front from before the final flight. He clearly put in a very powerful surge from two out to the final flight – at least in comparison with the three miler.

Sub Lieutenant

6th April 2017 – April – He has only been beaten by very good horses this season and was probably beaten by another one today at least when the ground is as quick as it was for the Melling Chase. He has been very consistent this season and may need to be put away now.

Traffic Fluide

6th April 2017 – April – He was being pushed and shoved all the way round and clearly needs soft ground and possibly even a longer trip.

Kylemore Lough

6th April 2017 – April – He was comfortably the third best horse in this race and paid for trying to win by tiring and getting caught on the line for the third place finish. He remains a horse to keep in mind when the ground rides softer than today. Given the names of his connections he is always likely to trade at a bigger price than he deserves in these high class races.

God’s Own

6th April 2017 – April – He finished off tamely after briefly threatening the placed horses half way up the home straight. As usual he jumped like he will be much better suited to Punchestown in a few weeks. This performance will not do his price any harm for Punchestown at the end of the month. He jumped right at enough fences for there to be few concerns with his form leading up to that next grade one contest.

Top Gamble

6th April 2017 – April – He is in no man’s land over this trip as he needs soft going but arguably does not quite see out this trip on slower ground. This surface was too quick for him and he was being scrubbed along from a long way out.

Josses Hill

6th April 2017 – April – He dropped out a long way from home after jumping out to his right at many of his fences.

Uxizandre

6th April 2017 – April – I have enjoyed a few good days with this horse over the last few years. It is time to draw a line through him I am afraid after a second run in a row where he simply did not seem to fancy the job. I could forgive him his last run as a high class horse was too quick for him which resulted in him sulking in behind. Today the lead was there for the taking but he politely declined the urgings of his jockey.

Royal Regatta

7th April 2017 – April – He is usually up with the pace and maybe he just sulked when he was asked to race from the back.

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