SMASHING (38) came right away from his rivals to clock a fast time when winning a beginners’ chase at Gowran Park. He’s clearly a smart horse.

The concern I have with Smashing right now is that he’s won all three times he’s contested races with single figure fields but only won a claiming hurdle in 21 races where 10 or more have lined up.

It could be that the switch to fences will change Smashing’s seeming preference for a small field. He certainly ran well enough when placed behind Grade 1 winners Don Poli and Un De Sceaux on his last two outings.

However I’d prefer his chances of taking a graded race if he runs in the Flyingbolt Novices Chase next time rather than going to Cheltenham where he’d be sure to face a big field.