Pym
8th November 2020 – Sandown – According to official ratings he has done something out of the ordinary here. Personally I doubt this is close to the truth. If we took the ratings of the first two horses literally then Pym has had to run to a mark of 170 to prevail by two and a half lengths here. I would suggest that this is a classic case of how their relative ratings have been acquired being the key here. Pym won a tough Ascot handicap chase with something to spare off 139 to earn a rating of 149. Conversely the runner up’s elevated 162 rating was acquired by finishing half a length clear of the 163 rated Apple’s Jade over hurdles at Aintree. Personally I was never convinced about the mare’s stamina for three miles; consequently I thought that rating was rather flimsy.
In essence Pym has led all the way and outstayed a horse who I believe still has his stamina for three miles to prove. Moreover this was only If The Cap Fits’ second try over fences which, perhaps, sheds a little more light on the actual quality of this winning performance.
Pym has done a lot right here and once again looked really good over his obstacles; nonetheless, he has not achieved anywhere near as much as he will be given credit for.
If The Cap Fits
8th November 2020 – Sandown – I know that in theory he should have won this race by a fair way; however, I actually believe he has done really well to stay so close to a vastly more experienced chaser that has jumped especially well for the whole of the final circuit. I am also far from certain that his Aintree hurdles success confirmed his stamina for a three mile race. I would prefer to remain open minded on that score until he excels over that sort of trip in the future. I hold little doubt that his 162 rating massively flatters him on the balance of his profile. Presumably his chase mark will drop below 160 after this comprehensive defeat.
Dominateur
8th November 2020 – Sandown – He struggled to jump with enough fluency over a trip that was short of his best and on ground quicker than ideal. He will hopefully enjoy opportunities in more suitable conditions later in the winter.
