Tuesday Review

The most interesting race of the day was the second division of the two miles three maiden hurdle at Clonmel - an event which featured Saint Roi (5th in 2019) and Capodanno (3rd in 2020) - and it was dominated once again by Willie Mullins, who was responsible for the winner Karafon and third Karamoja. The former drifted in the market but proved too strong for his stable companion leading before the second last and staying on strongly to score by two and a quarter lengths. Previously trained by Yannick Fouin in France, the four year old has now raced three times over hurdles and only needs one more outing before qualifying for races such as the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle in the spring. The Karaktar gelding has a bright future and, while back in third, Karamoja remains a highly promising filly. Featured in the French Revolution section, the Masked Marvel mare, who plied her trade with Daniela Mele prior to being bought by Gigginstown House Stud, raced keenly early on and paid for it late in the piece. Absent for 441 days, the four year old ought to improve considerably for the outing and will benefit from professional handling in mares' novice hurdles this winter. Don't be in a rush to write her off.

Dan Skelton has another progressive young hurdler on his hands in Mr Hope Street. I was working at Carlisle in October when the six year old had the misfortune to bump into another well handicapped opponent Plaisir Des Flos. However, the Jet Away gelding made amends in no uncertain terms at Southwell on Tuesday. Tackling three miles for the first time, he relished the step up in distance outclassing his seven opponents by upwards of five lengths off a lenient looking mark of 109. Ridden closer to the pace, he only had to be pushed out after the last. Even though the handicapper is unlikely to relent, he strikes as the sort to stay ahead of the assessor in the immediate future. He won't have any trouble jumping fences either - he is a big strapping gelding with plenty of scope.