Donn
Squouateur
Squouateur did well to finish third in the Paddy Power Chase. Held up towards the rear of the field through the early stages of the race by Barry Geraghty, his jumping wasn’t overly fluent on occasion, and he was no better than 12th as they turned after jumping the third last fence. He got caught in traffic a little as they turned for home, but he stayed on well over the last and up the run-in on the far side to take third place behind Anibale Fly and Ucello Conti.
Gordon Elliott’s horse was well beaten by the winner, but he was only beaten a length by his stable companion for the runner-up spot, and he battled on bravely to get the better of another stable companion Potters Point for third. It was a fine run by JP McManus’ horse, coming from the rear, as he did. It was a race in which it was probably an advantage to race prominently from early. The early leader, Vieux Morvan, a 40/1 shot, kept on for fifth place, and the horses who were involved in the finish all raced prominently. Indeed, Squouateur was the only one of the first eight home who was held up early on.
The handicapper raised him 2lb for this to a mark of 135, which was fair enough, and it still leaves him as a potentially well-handicapped horse, it still leaves him 6lb below his hurdles mark. Hopefully his jumping will improve, it probably needs to, but he has just turned seven so he still has plenty of potential for progression. He was travelling well even though he was well back in the field well when he unseated in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham last March, and it may be that that will be the target again this season. He could also be an Irish National horse, he ran well over 2m in his only chase at Fairyhouse and he is two for two over hurdles there.
Leopardstown, 27th December 2017