Eye Catchers October 2024

Eye Catchers October 2024

Bottler’secret – 3rd in 3.30 Cheltenham 26/10/24
 

Bottler’secret was a disappointing third at Cheltenham last Saturday when sent off the even money favourite. He was second in a Grade 1 hurdle at the Punchestown festival last May and had the best form coming into this race. He had won his four previous starts all on ground described as soft or heavy. He is a winner in waiting back on his preferred soft ground and just found the surface too lively at Cheltenham in my opinion. You might get a reasonable price about him on his next start.

Out For A Stroll – 5th in 1.53 Galway 26/10/24

 

Out For A Stroll was well supported on her second hurdles start for trainer Joseph O’ Brien and owner JP McManus. She was backed overnight into 3/1 joint favourite and like on debut was a bit green in the jumping department. She lost ground on a couple of her hurdles before staying on up the Galway hill to finish fifth. She looks like a handicap job at this stage and it wouldn’t surprise me if she ran much the same on her next start to get her handicap mark. JP usually likes them to run for experience in their first handicap before showing better form on the second handicap run. That would bring you close to the Christmas racing festivals.

Turn And Finish – 3rd in 1.53 Galway 26/10/24
 

The outsider of the Joseph O’ Brien trained runners Turn And Finish was having his third hurdle run and was good over his hurdles bar the second last when getting in close and bunny hopping it. He was short of room turning the last bend and had to be switched wide to make his challenge. The winner had got a clear lead at that stage but Turn And Finish stayed on strongly to finish third. He ran over 1m 4f on the flat so I wouldn’t be surprised if he stepped up in trip. He too is capable of picking up a race over the coming months. 

Rubaud – 1st in 4.00 Kempton 20/10/24
 

Rubaud showed his class when winning on his seasonal reappearance at Kempton when some of Paul Nicholls’ horses have needed the run. He will now run in Wincanton where he won last season before switching to the larger obstacles. He is supposedly a very sound jumper of a fence and will be interesting to see how he progresses throughout the season as he was better during the early part of last season. He is one to keep onside though and he could well end up higher rated over the larger obstacles. 

Jurancon – 2nd in 4.08 Worcester 16/10/24
 

Jurancon came from the Irish point field when winning for Colin Bowe. He was then sold to Britain where he went into training for David Pipe. He won two Bumpers last season and was second in the third. He was making his hurdling debut at Worcester and he made a few jumping errors mostly due to a lack of race experience in my opinion. However both him and the favourite The Kemble Brewery pulled 10 lengths clear of the third and both showed a good attitude running on strongly through the line. Jurancon will be very hard to beat in his next race with improvement likely.

Sundial – 2nd in 4.50 Punchestown 15/10/24
 

Sundial was an encouraging second when unfancied for the William Hill Handicap hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday. He was fourth in the Boodles Handicap hurdle at the Cheltenham festival in 2023 off a handicap mark of 120. He has only won a maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan since and has a handicap mark of 114.

Sundial looks capable of targeting a big handicap this season at one of the festivals and may need to win a handicap in the process. He stayed on from well off the pace in this race to finish second. He had no chance with the winner who had kicked well clear and won comfortably. At the age of five there is more to come from Sundial. 

Farland – 3rd in 1.35 Chepstow 11/10/24
 

Farland is a bit of a monkey however he is a monkey with ability, and a big engine. He was formerly owned and trained by Irish point to point handler, Sean Doyle. Farland was fancied to win the Goffs Bumper at Punchestown. He finished fourth in that bumper and was sold to Neil and Alfie Smith to be trained with Paul Nicholls. He was second on his British debut at Aintree and followed that by winning at Fakenham on his next run.

Farland showed enough at Chepstow last Friday to suggest he can jump and travel but ideally, he would be better suited by a strong pace to help him settle. He is a work in progress, I think he will pick up a race or two over hurdles throughout the season.


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