Champion dream is alive for Symonds’ Song

CONNECTIONS of Song For Someone are reluctant to commit the improving five-year-old to a bid for the Champion Hurdle in March, but Tom Symonds’s progressive timber-topper deserves his place at the top table after his typical game and tenacious victory in the Grade 2 International Hurdle.

Last Saturday he got the better of an equally genuine sort in the shape of Silver Streak (Evan Williams/Adam Wedge), the verdict just a nose, with Welsh Champion Hurdle principals Ballyandy and Sceau Royal filling the frame.

A well-supported 9/2 chance, and the mount of Aidan Coleman, Song For Someone is a very quick and economical jumper for whom the loss of four of the nine flights – due to the low sun – was a distinct disadvantage, and while some may crab the form with Goshen running below par and returning with a fibrillating heart, the race was not really set up to show him off to best effect, and his career is one of gradual progression.

Further improvement will be required if he’s to win a Champion Hurdle, of course, but he has the right attributes in terms of jumping prowess and stamina for further.

Fusil fires

Fusil Raffles (Nicky Henderson/Daryl Jacob) had disappointed in the November Novices’ Chase here last month, but he benefited from a longer trip when getting back to winning ways in the novice chase, where his stable-companion Chantry House failed to distinguish himself having been presented with a simple task on his own chase debut at Kempton.

He didn’t jump well enough here, or indeed at Kempton to be considered a major contender at Grade 1 level, but can be expected to have been extensively re-schooled when next seen.

Adagio (David Pipe/Tom Scudamore) was hammered in the market for the Triumph Hurdle Trial, and he wasn’t fully extended to win in some style from Historic Heart, but this was a trial in name only, and while the winner is useful, he will need to pass a stiffer test to be considered a contender for the juvenile championship.