THERE was a lot to like about the performance that Tout Est Permis put up in winning the Ladbrokes Troytown Chase at Navan on Sunday.
Settled nicely in mid-division by Sean Flanagan, towards the outside, the only real moment of concern came at the bend out of the back straight final time, when Kylecrue moved to his right and Noel Meade’s horse got caught up a little in the backwash of the concertina effect.
It was interesting to hear Sean Flanagan say afterwards that, while he uttered his displeasure at the time in the heat of the race, with the benefit of hindsight, the incident may have helped him.
That he may have been getting there too early.
As it turned out, he got there at just the right time. He joined Mr Diablo after jumping the second last fence, kicked on on the run to the last, and stayed on strongly up the run-in.
The Gigginstown House horse has had plenty of racing, but he is still only five. He was impressive in winning at Galway on his debut this season, his first run for Meade, in October, and he made light of a 10lb hike on Sunday.
Another 12lbs for Sunday’s win will obviously make life more difficult in handicaps now, but it also puts him on the coat-tails of graded class. He jumps, he travels, he stays, and he has youth on his side.
He remains an exciting prospect.
Other horses to note from the Troytown? Mr Diablo ran a massive race for David Mullins to finish second on his second run back after a long break.
Philip Dempsey’s horse did best by far of the horses who raced handily from early, and a 4lb hike takes him up to a mark of just 137, which is still 2lbs lower than his Irish peak. That gives him a chance.
Magic Of Light is also interesting. Jessica Harrington’s mare was travelling well when she made a bad mistake at the second fence in the back straight final time, the fence at which Arkwrisht’s chance ended. She did well to stay on as well as well as she did after that to take third place, and a 2lb hike is fair. She is only seven and she has the potential to go beyond her new mark of 138.