THERE was stiff competition for ride of the week (see above), and it is unusual that the ride on a loser should be in contention, but Denis O’Regan’s ride on Bedrock in the Galway Hurdle was exceptional.

Bedrock was a little recalcitrant in the preliminaries, he needed plenty of encouragement just to get him to line up and, when he did jump off, he did so at the back of the Galway Hurdle field, 20th of 20.

The rider didn’t panic. He kept his horse towards the inside and concentrated on getting him jumping, getting him into a nice relaxed racing rhythm. Still last of the 19 remaining runners when they jumped the third last, O’Regan angled his horse towards the outside on the run down the hill, then moved him back to the inside over the second last in order to save ground around the home turn. He had to come wide into the home straight, but he still arrived there with a chance on the run to the last. He had done a lot of running from the rear in order to get into that position, however, and he just kept on for fourth place.

As well as the ride, it was a fine performance by Iain Jardine’s horse. This year’s Galway Hurdle was a race in which it was probably an advantage to race handily. The first three home were prominent from flagfall, and it was difficult for the hold-up horses to get into it.

Third in the Grade 1 Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree last April, Bedrock is only five, and there should be more to come from him.