Reporter: Andy Gibson
This was a fast-run race compared with the BetMGM Handicap Hurdle that followed just over an hour later. When comparing the winner of this race with Jingko Blue (winner of the BetMGM Cup) from their respective first hurdle to the last with a circuit to go, King Rasko Grey was already around three seconds quicker than the winner of the later race. He remained a similar margin in front jumping two out before the Nicky Henderson handicapper narrowed that gap from thereon in.
His connections felt he benefitted a lot from the experience of running at the Dublin Racing Festival and he may also have appreciated the faster conditions at Cheltenham. He managed to get off to a good start which was probably crucial to his chances as he jumped the first hurdle only just behind the leader. He remained prominent close to the rail throughout which added plenty to the positive trip round he enjoyed. He can also be marked up for finishing well clear of all the horses that raced to the fore with him from the early stages. He won with plenty of authority at the line and his trainer stated post-race that he would be keeping the door open for a possible Champion Hurdle tilt next year.
This was a superb effort particularly as he did not enjoy such an advantageous trip round compared with the winner. He was in the second group of horses through the first half of the race and found himself stuck on the rail with nowhere to go from just after the fourth last hurdle. He either stumbled or clipped heels at this point of the race but still managed to thread his way through to track the eventual winner coming down the hill. I would not like to suggest that his less positive trip round cost him a winning chance; however, I am sure he would have finished much closer with a kinder run through the race.
He was well behind for much of the race and suffered a less than positive round whilst stuck close to the rail with a wall of horses in front of him. He made eyecatching late headway and did very well to finish so close at the line.
I doubt very much that earning his connections £8k with a staying on fourth place finish was part of the Skelton plan pre-race. He was close to last even jumping three out before making rapid late headway from the last to the line. He has been raised 15lb to 146 for this performance and, as promising as this run may have been, one cannot help but think that a sixth or seventh place finish would have been a better result with his immediate future in handicaps in mind.
He did second best of the prominent horses and can be marked up as such. I would guess that his connections will be perfectly happy with this performance on ground that may have been faster than ideal.
His jumping lacked fluency and did not stand up to this test.
After racing prominently from the early stages he weakened quickly before falling three out. I would imagine we might be seeing him back over two miles sooner rather than later.
I think it is safe to draw a line through this apparently poor display. After missing the kick from the off he had nowhere to go and his chances of winning were gone even with a circuit to go.
