Obey The Order

(Philip Rothwell)

Gowran Park, November 8th

Philip Rothwell had a winner and a close second at Gowran last Saturday, but another of his runners on the card put together a promising effort of his own in what looked a strong maiden hurdle. Obey The Order, a decisive point-to-point winner on debut last year for Sean Doyle, looks to be getting the hang of things over hurdles on the basis of his fourth at the Co Kilkenny track. That was his third start under rules, having finished in mid-division in a Punchestown Festival bumper on debut last spring before being beaten 10 and a half lengths when third in a Tipperary maiden hurdle last month. The Soldier Of Fortune five-year-old was ridden quietly over just shy of two and a half miles at Tipperary and a more positive ride over two miles at Gowran appeared to suit fine. He probably lacked a gear when classier rivals forced the pace approaching the business end, but he kept on well enough to suggest he can be effective back over further with more prominent tactics than were enforced at Tipperary. It will be interesting to note how his next run - his third over hurdles - unfolds, given he will be eligible for handicaps afterwards. He could be a nice type for a novice handicap hurdle and is clearly unexposed. He’s also got a chance on paper, being out of a half-sister to Willie Mullins’ Coral Cup winner Bleu Berry.

Newbrook Diamond

(Gordon Elliott)

Naas, November 9th

The two-mile-three-furlong maiden hurdle at Naas last Sunday was run at a sedate pace, and that probably didn’t play to the strengths of stoutly-bred point-to-point winner Newbrook Diamond. The winner, a 30/100 favourite who had finished first past the post in a bumper last season, was probably better suited by bossing the steady tempo in front, and the race became a match between the two in the straight. The Gordon Elliott-trained runner-up didn’t quite have the gears of the winner but pulled 15 lengths clear of the third and shaped as though he would benefit from this first experience under rules (it was noticeable how easy he was to back beforehand, and how much market confidence there was behind the winner). Winner Fruit De Mer’s top speed was 34.9mph, versus 33.67mph for Newbrook Diamond. He should have no issue winning a maiden hurdle and improving from there.

Goraibhmaithagat

(Colm Murphy)

Naas, November 9th

There are often beaten horses in beginners’ chases at this time of year who are worth sticking in the notebook for longer term targets, and Goraibhmathagat slotted into that category when finishing a promising fifth, beaten 20 lengths, in a two-mile contest at Naas last Sunday. The Colm Murphy-trained five-year-old was ridden patiently and allowed to build confidence over his obstacles on this chasing debut, and he came home to decent effect - despite being beaten a significant margin by Irish Panther. This J.P. and Noreen McManus home-bred has a tidy pedigree, being a half-brother to the promising Lovely Hurling and full-brother to useful stayer Cadatharla, and he reached a hurdles mark of 130 from four appearances over flights last season. He should be able to be effective over further than this two-mile trip (albeit his point-to-point win came over two and a half miles in February 2024) and this kind introduction to chasing should set him up well for better things later in the campaign.

Ritz Plan

(Joseph O’Brien)

Punchestown, November 13th

It’s proven quite difficult to get a proper handle on the standard of form on display so far in the Academy Hurdle Series, though there hasn’t been a more impressive winner in the initiative so far than Punchestown’s fillies-only contest scorer Highland Crystal. The Robcour-Gordon Elliott three-year-old was in a league of her own and looks bound for higher grades. It will be interesting to follow what route 14-length second Ritz Plan goes down after this, as she made a promising debut in her own right for Joseph O’Brien, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. She wouldn’t have beaten the winner in any case, but the race didn’t unfold as smoothly for the second, who raced behind horses down the inner, without much light at times, and had to be squeezed on the home turn to avoid getting caught in traffic from one dropping away. In contrast, Highland Crystal always had clear shooting and could go where she wanted at all stages, getting first run on the runner-up. Ritz Plan put 13 lengths between herself and the third, so this was a decent showing, and she’s got a good pedigree to fall back on too. The Shaman filly is a half-sister to Gordon Elliott’s Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle winner/Galway Hurdle second/Coral Cup third Bayan, and Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes winner Nebo.