DEAUVILLE VISION A GROUP 1 FILLY IN MUD

DEAUVILLE VISION (39) ran extraordinarily fast to blast home by eight lengths in the Irish Lincoln. I actually rate her performance good enough to take a Group 1 race for fillies.

The problem with a lot of fast horses is that it's hard for their connections to figure out just what circumstances suit them. And even when they do know they often get tempted by big prize money and potential stud value to run them in the wrong races. This doesn't seem likely to happen with Deauville Vision as her trainer Mick Halford is convinced that she needs soft ground and plans to rough her off for the Summer to avoid the temptation of running her on anything faster. In the meantime there is the Athasi Stakes at the Curragh next month which Deauville Vision should romp if she gets her ground. Sadly, she ran so big here I imagine she'll be odds on for that race. The time to bet her is going to be when she runs against some of the top fillies in the Autumn on soft or heavy ground.

HOLD THE PIN LOOKING GOOD FOR PUNCHESTOWN

Seeing that he was a close, staying on third to the smart Presenting Express in a point to point over three miles it's a bit surprising that HOLD THE PIN (38) never ran over that long a trip in his first thirteen starts under rules. He certainly showed an appreciation for the distance when finally stepped up to three miles to take a valuable novice handicap chase at Navan.

Hold The Pin won this race off an official rating of just 100, a mark which understates his true ability by an enormous margin according to my speed ratings. This being so he looks a very good prospect for his intended engagement at the Punchestown Festival.

The runner up KNOCKERSALLY FLYER (37) had a remarkably similar record in that 12 of his 13 previous outings under rules had been over trips short of three miles despite the fact he'd also run well in a three mile point to point. He too clearly appreciated the step up in distance and is just as well handicapped as the winner.

GIOLLA DE (37), having only his second outing beyond two and a half miles, showed similar improvement to the first two to finish well clear of the rest. I'd recommend following him in three mile handicap chases too.

IN THE HIGH GRASS JUST KEEPS ON RUNNING FASTER

IN THE HIGH GRASS (39) ran fast enough when taking a valuable two mile handicap chase at Gowran Park to get me wondering whether he would have won at the Cheltenham Festival. He's certainly fast enough to have done the job and will no doubt get his chance next year.

Three days later In the High Grass ran below this form when only third at Clonmel. Either he didn't stay the longer trip at Clonmel (which is the explanation I favour) or the race came too soon. Either way this highly progressive six year old still looks a very interesting candidate for the Aintree and Punchestown Festivals.

MANSONY STILL ALMOST UNSTOPPABLE IN MUD

MANSONY (40) is one of those horses that gets mentioned rather a lot by me because he tends to run awfully fast when he hits his favoured conditions. This basically means less than two and a half miles over fences on soft or heavy ground. He took his record to five wins out of five in these circumstances when winning the Naas Chase just before the Cheltenham Festival.

Quite where Mansony goes from here I don't know. Due to his need for really soft ground he needs to be placed opportunistically when the going comes right for him. He can't really be trained for a specific target. All I can say is that when he runs over less than two and a half miles over fences of soft or heavy ground you should be very wary of opposing him. He routinely runs big Grade 2 class speed ratings and is capable of beating just about anything in these conditions.

HOW GOOD IS KAZAL?

Speed ratings don't always tell the full story. KAZAL (37) provides a good example of this. He always seems to struggle in his races but then goes on to produce whatever is necessary to secure the victory. He doesn't win by big margins, only enough to win. So I really have no idea just how fast he actually could run if he were pressed. He's now won five Graded races in a row and run pretty much the same speed rating several times. He did it again when taking the Grade 2 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles, where, as ever, he looked in trouble before scoring by three lengths.

Villez is already six, which is relatively old for a French bred (the stats show they tend to start deteriorating at eight). He's also bred for chasing. So I imagine his connections will be putting him over the bigger jumps straight away next season. Given his pedigree, he should be at least as good over fences. Maybe then we'll find out just how good he is. Quite possibly he's a Grade 1 performer.

BIG ZEB GETS INTERESTING

BIG ZEB (36) hosed up in pattern class time on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse. He'll need to run a little faster than this to score at the Punchestown Festival. But horses normally improve about three points on my ratings for their first start over obstacles, so that looks very possible.

I imagine Big Zebb will be a pretty warm order to follow up this win in an ordinary event next time. At least that run will tell us a bit more about this smart sort. In the long run he's bred to want longer than two miles and be a chaser. He looks a terrific prospect for novice chases next term.

BLAZING SKY SHOULD WIN AGAIN

BLAZING SKY (37) won as a pattern winner should when taking an ordinary novice hurdle at Downpatrick. This is the third time she's won in four races restricted to mares since lowing on her racecourse debut. The only horse of her own sex to finish in front of her has been the smart Grangeclare Lark.

Blazing Sky isn't quite quick enough to beat the best male novice hurdlers. But she improved a bit here on the clock and begins to interest me. I guess she won't be around much longer as she's already earned the black type she needs to become more valuable at stud than on the racecourse. However there's surely another decent mares only novice hurdle she can win.