Low Expectations

(Paul Nolan)

Downpatrick, September 20th

It’s difficult to say that he ran to a particularly high figure, but there was promise in the debut third of Low Expectations in a two-mile-two-furlong bumper at Downpatrick last week. Paul Nolan’s Sans Frontieres four-year-old was the only newcomer in the line-up and he was ridden with definite patience in the first half of the contest, fitted with a hood for his introduction. In contrast, the winner was effectively right on the pace throughout and the runner-up was never too far away. The unsold €3,800 store at last year’s Tattersalls Ireland July Store Sale showed signs of greenness when asked to improve, but did gradually respond and kept on well enough to get by all bar the front two in the straight. The winner, a wide-margin point-to-point winner who cost €130,000, had finished a fine second to the talented to Mozzies Sister on her bumper bow at Down Royal, gives a decent look to the form, and the runner-up (four and a half lengths in front of Low Expectations here) has now finished second in three consecutive bumpers. Low Expectations still has a bit to learn and will need to improve on this, but he has a chance of doing so given his unexposed profile.

Daler

(Ger Lyons)

Gowran Park, September 21st

The progeny of Dark Angel often improve plenty from their introductory runs and that was very much the case with Daler, when comparing his Curragh debut in June to his third at Gowran Park last Saturday. The Ger Lyons-trained colt was short of room pretty much immediately after the gates opened and ended up well back in the field, but the manner in which he ran on was encouraging. He was the fastest in the race through the final three furlongs, as per Coursetrack’s sectional timing data, and this contest worked out much differently for him than the winner, County Mayo, who was always right on the pace. It shouldn’t be an issue for Daler to win a maiden, and stepping back to seven furlongs (from a mile) could even be an option at some stage, if he were to get away on better terms.

Iceford

(Johnny Murtagh)

Navan, September 21st

A slack start was also the undoing of Iceford on his debut at Navan on the same debut. Bred by Maurice Regan and racing in the colours of Newtown Anner Stud Farm for Johnny Murtagh, it was always going to be an uphill battle after the newcomer gave his rivals a headstart over five furlongs on good ground here - especially when he was one of only two previously unraced runners in the 10-horse field. However, he did come home to good effect under Shane Kelly to finish a clear fourth. This didn’t look the deepest of maidens on paper beforehand and he’ll need to improve to win one, but he’s got the potential to progress and stepping up to six furlongs could be an option in time too.

Fivefortwo

(Mick Halford and Tracey Collins)

Listowel, September 23rd

Fivefortwo didn’t get the bounce of the ball in his favour on debut at Leopardstown last month when sixth and had been balloted out while waiting for a run in the interim. He got his chance to get off the mark at Listowel on Monday and possibly found the track sharper than he’d ideally want, finishing third to the experienced Right And True (third in the Tattersalls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes at the Irish Champions Festival) and promising Galway Festival maiden third Nobler. As was the case with his debut, the Time Test colt was well-supported in the market and shaped like one who will likely have more to offer in time. He can build on this.