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It was very much a case of quantity over quality in this maiden hurdle, the form just fair behind the impressive winner who looks another smart recruit for the Willie Mullins team which has unleashed a number of them in recent days.
The horse in question this time was Indiana Dream, who was sent off the 9/4 joint favourite on his hurdling debut and his first start of any description since winning a bumper at Fontainebleau in February when trained by Emmanuel Clayeux.
Settled just behind the leaders in the early stages, he was produced to lead after jumping three out and gradually asserted from there to land the spoils by 15 lengths in ready fashion.
Sure to progress and win more races, Indiana Dream earned quotes of around 20/1 for both the Ballymore and Albert Bartlett in the aftermath of this success – he certainly looks capable of making an impact in Graded company.
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Starshiba was bidding to close out the year with a hat-trick of wins at Lingfield but was foiled in his attempt to make it three wins on the bounce there this month after being caught further back than ideal.
Even so, he still shaped like the best horse in being beaten a length into third behind Algheed in a race run at just an ordinary gallop. That suited the first two, who were prominent throughout, but not Starshiba who still had plenty to do on the home turn after being slowly into his stride before finishing well when produced wide in the straight.
Clearly still in good heart after taking all year to rediscover some winning form, Starshiba can win more handicaps this winter and he’s just as effective at a mile as at seven furlongs.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Friday
IRON BRIDGE
Winner, 3m1f novices' handicap chase, Haydock, Friday 30 December
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Iron Bridge made it two out of three over fences, and five out of six in his career all told, and while he was left with the simplest of tasks in the end, he really couldn’t be faulted and looks very much the type to go on and make his mark in some good handicaps.
Iron Bridge was up against only one rival but when the odds-on favourite Crystal Glory was pulled up amiss before five out it became a non-event, Iron Bridge having just taken up the running at that point and coasting home from there.
Apart from hitting the eleventh, his jumping was good otherwise and he’s one to view positively, including over long distances.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Thursday
GREYVAL
Second, 2m fillies' juvenile maiden hurdle, Doncaster, Thursday 29 December
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The first two in the betting pulled clear of the rest in this juvenile hurdle for fillies, with victory going to favourite Arclight for Nicky Henderson.
But fellow hurdling debutant Greyval showed plenty of promise too on her first start for Fergal O’Brien a length and three quarters behind the winner.
She took the eye with how long she went on the bridle, travelling powerfully off the pace before improving to lead after two out and then running green going to the last before being headed on the flat. She’s sure to progress.
Greyval had been trained by Ludovic Gadbin on the Flat in France where she showed fairly useful form, winning twice over a mile and a half at Nantes.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsThis was a steadily-run maiden hurdle where it paid to be prominent, the winner seizing the initiative early on the final circuit and maintaining his advantage to the line.
However, one horse who could improve significantly next time is the Willie Mullins-trained Feu du Bresil, who shaped with plenty of promise on his return from a mammoth absence.
He finished runner-up in a newcomers event on his sole start in France and has had to wait more than four years to make his debut for these connections. Feu du Bresil refused to settle and all the energy he expended in the early stages told as he was left behind from the home turn. He could hardly be in better hands, though, and it says plenty about the potential he has that such powerful connections have persevered with him. One to watch.
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsThis novice hurdler contained plenty of lightly-raced horses and it looks sure to throw up winner both in the short and medium term, while the winner Out of Office looked a very exciting prospect.
It looks form to take a positive view of, and one horse to take out of the race for sure is Half Dozen, who appears to have been brought along gradually but will now be qualified for a handicap mark.
Half Dozen is still very much a work in progress, but he still looked threatening before making a couple of mistakes at three and two out, and was looked after from there on in. He is the type who will leave the bare form of this well behind in handicap, while he has the physique to suggest he'll definitely make up into a chaser, too.
Timeform Eyecatcher: Monday
OPERATION MANNA
Third, 2m4f handicap hurdle, Newcastle, Monday 26 December
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Discover Sporting Life Plus BenefitsThis race wasn't run at a strong gallop, the winner dictating a steady pace and only five lengths covered the first six home, so it is well worth given Operation Manna another chance to prove himself on a good mark given he was arguably inconvenienced most by how the race panned out.
He was heavily backed beforehand but he left the firm impression he needed a stronger pace to aim at, produced to challenge three out but soon outpaced afterwards before staying on again at the finish. Operation Manna would have finished second with another stride and is almost certainly a horse to remain positive about, either kept at this trip or moving up to around three miles. He remains with his potential intact and is one to look out for next time.
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