A well-beaten fourth on his debut and
blinkered today.
Produced an improved performance when
blinkered for the first time at Bath on Thursday and is expected to go close here if repeating that effort.
A colleague, who has laid Intersky Falcon on the exchanges, suggested that blinkered runners have a staggeringly bad record, especially in championship hurdles.
Interestingly, the last-named pair were both trained by Martin Pipe, who has also had success with the blinkered Or Royal and Challenger du Luc.
TRAINERS will continue to be able to fit their horses with headgear in the Martell Grand National, despite the pile-up caused by the
blinkered Paddy's Return last year.
The part played by the
blinkered Paddy's Return in the Canal Turn pile-up, and the fact that Edmond, also fitted with the headgear, impeded Blowing Wind and Papillon, is to be highlighted by the RSPCA.
Besides Escartefigue, trainer Paul Nicholls is represented by the novice Arlas, who is also
blinkered, while Alan King relies on Spendid and Mulligan.
This research has now become common knowledge, so '
blinkered first time' is now generally regarded as a negative by the people who shape the betting markets.
The Risk Me gelding, unable to challenge when
blinkered for the first time at York last week, proved too strong for Fallachan under Willie Ryan and may be rested in the autumn with a possible tilt at next year's Lincoln the long-term plan if the ground is fast.
