Roc Dino
Roc Dino was impressive in winning the listed three-mile-and-half-a-furlong novices' hurdle at Cork on Sunday. Settled nicely by Paul Townend early on, last of the sextet behind a sedate pace, he made nice ground down the back straight final time to move into second place behind leader Too Hot To Trot. Still on bridle as they turned for home, he jumped into the lead at the second last flight, still travelling well, and he cleared away impressively over the last and up to the winning line, leaving the impression that he had a fair bit more in hand than the eight-length winning margin.
There were several impressive elements to this performance by Willie Mullins' horse. For starters, he settled well behind a sedate pace, stepped up in trip to three miles for the first time. Also, his jumping was very good, and it was at its slickest over the last three flights, in the hottest part of the race. The winning time was not fast, but that was down to the sedate early pace, and he finished off his race strongly. He was faster than all his rivals through each of the last three furlongs, 1.35secs faster than the next fastest.
He has lots of options now. This was his 10th run over hurdles, but he is still only five, and he is still a novice. He won his maiden hurdle at Downpatrick in early May this year. He bumped into some smart sorts last year, he finished second to Mighty Park and to El Cairos, but he is progressing nicely now. He showed a smart turn of foot in winning at Listowel on his previous run, and that was again in evidence here, over a longer distance. He had a rating of 128 going into this listed race, the handicapper raised him by 4lb to a mark of 132, but that is still a really workable mark if connections decide to go down the handicap route. He would be of interest if he lined up in the Listed Bective Stud Handicap Hurdle at Navan on Troytown Chase weekend. Alternatively, he would also be of interest in some of the good staying novice hurdles. The Grade 3 three-mile novices' hurdle back at Cork on Hilly Way Chase day would be a logical next step for him.
Cork, 1st November 2026
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