Petit Tonnerre
Petit Tonnerre put up a good performance to finish second behind Imperial Saint in the two-mile novices' handicap chase at Aintree on Sunday. Back in the field early on, he wasn't helped by making a mistake at the cross fence, when the pace was starting to increase. Sixth of the seven runners as they rounded the home turn, he travelled well into the home straight, but he got a little tapped for toe when they quickened on the run to the second last. Left in a share of second place at the final fence when Moveit Like Minnie ran out, he stayed on strongly up the run-in to get to within three parts of a length of Imperial Saint by the time they got to the winning line, coming away from third-placed Parisencore.
The winner was always prominent, up with a moderate pace and, while he found plenty in front, Petit Tonnerre did well to keep on as well as he did and get as close as he did from back in the field. Rated 141 over hurdles at his peak, the O'Neills' horse was racing off a chase mark of 125 here, a mark that he has the potential now to surpass now over fences. This was his first run since June. Also, it was his first run over fences since February and just his fifth in total. He is only six and he should improve for this run. He should also do better with a greater test of stamina, a stiffer track or a faster pace or easier ground or a longer distance, or some combination of all of those. He has gone well over fences and over hurdles at Cheltenham in the past.
Aintree 27th October, 2024
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Petit Tonnerre put up a good performance to finish second behind Imperial Saint in the two-mile novices' handicap chase at Aintree on Sunday. Back in the field early on, he wasn't helped by making a mistake at the cross fence, when the pace was starting to increase. Sixth of the seven runners as they rounded the home turn, he travelled well into the home straight, but he got a little tapped for toe when they quickened on the run to the second last. Left in a share of second place at the final fence when Moveit Like Minnie ran out, he stayed on strongly up the run-in to get to within three parts of a length of Imperial Saint by the time they got to the winning line, coming away from third-placed Parisencore.
The winner was always prominent, up with a moderate pace and, while he found plenty in front, Petit Tonnerre did well to keep on as well as he did and get as close as he did from back in the field. Rated 141 over hurdles at his peak, the O'Neills' horse was racing off a chase mark of 125 here, a mark that he has the potential now to surpass now over fences. This was his first run since June. Also, it was his first run over fences since February and just his fifth in total. He is only six and he should improve for this run. He should also do better with a greater test of stamina, a stiffer track or a faster pace or easier ground or a longer distance, or some combination of all of those. He has gone well over fences and over hurdles at Cheltenham in the past.
Aintree 27th October, 2024
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