Saratoga
2nd-May-2026
I thought that the Fred Winter Hurdle winner Saratoga should have been closer in the betting to the Triumph Hurdle winner Apolon De Charnie than he is.
Saratoga was a talented horse on the flat when he was with Aidan O’Brien, he reached a rating of 92, and he progressed nicely this season over hurdles for Padraig Roche. The Fred Winter Hurdle had obviously been the plan for a while, and he was very good on the day, despite his weakness in the market. He travelled like the most likely winner from a fair way out, and he won well.
This is a step up in grade obviously, from a handicap into a Grade 1, but the handicapper has him just 6lb inferior to Apolon De Charnie, and there is every chance that he can make up that ground. Jeff Kidder proved five years ago that Fred Winter Hurdle winners can come on to Punchestown and win the Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle.
SARATOGA WON (ADV 4/1, SP 9/2)
Back