Horse In Focus - Back In Focus

BACK IN FOCUS 

• Our horse in focus this week is the hugely promising Back In Focus [1], who ran out the impressive winner of the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Haydock on Saturday. It was made even more impressive the fact that this was the 6yo's first run over hurdles and his first run in the UK.

• The lovely chestnut gelding beat the well fancied Court In Motion [2] easily by 6L over the 3m trip on heavy ground and his odds have been slashed from 66/1 to as low as 8/1 with some firms for the Cheltenham [3] equivalent.  

Beginnings

• The son of recently deceased BOB BACK out of the dam DUN BELLE [4] (a former high class chaser who was 2nd to Dorans Pride in the Hennessy Gold Cup) was bred by Mrs A. Connolly in Ireland.

• He went to the Derby sale at Tattersalls in June 2008 as a 3yo but was unsold for £17,000. He was then prepared to go into training by his owner and trainer, John Costello. 

Point-to-Points

• The 6yo started out his career in Irish point-to-points just over a year ago. He made his debut in Askeaton, Co. Limerick where unfortunatley things didn't go to plan as he fell at the first.

• His next outing in November 2010 proved much more encouraging as he was only beaten a neck into 2nd by Friendly Soceity in Dromahane, Co. Cork. 

• He broke his duck on the third attempt in Kilfeacle Co. Tipperary, where he won comfortablely by 12L, ridden by Derek O'Connor. Mr O'Conner thought that he was one of the nicest horses he has sat on and that says a lot coming from the multiple point-to-point Jockey championship winner. 

• After winning his point-to-point he was more attractive to buyers and he was sold on to Andrea & Graham Wylie and trainer Howard Johnson where he now resides.

Future

• After his impressive hurdles debut his jockey Brian Hughes said that he is still a big baby but he jumps really well. He clearly loves the heavy ground and he stays every yard of the trip. He beat some decent rivals at Haydock and it was a very encouraging run.

• All roads surely lead to Cheltenham [3] now with the Albert Bartlett over 3m looking the obvious target and with improvement highly likely he does look a threat to all.