Total Look takes Navan’s opener

Useful Flat performer Total Look (11/4f) made a winning jumps debut at Navan today, landing the opening Bar One Racing "Price Boosts Across All Channels" 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle for trainer Gavin Cromwell and jockey Keith Donoghue.

Rated 87 on the Flat, the son of Cloth Os Stars today tracked the leaders and jumped well and while he seemed to shake off the challenge of chasing Beyond Your Dreams jumping the final flight, that runner-up finished strongly on the run-in. Beyond Your Dreams eventually rallied to get to within a half-length of Total Look at the line, thus running similarly well to her recent Fairyhouse runner-up effort on November 5.

Regarding the Brendan Rogers-owned winner, Cromwell commented “we bought him as a yearling to go juvenile hurdling in the long-term, so everything is after working out to plan: it doesn't often happen like that! He's a lovely horse going forward, has plenty of size and scope and should keep improving. He is a very athletic type of horse.

"He is ground versatile but I'd say that is beautiful ground for him and he will handle softer ground as well. He is still a very immature horse, but that leaves you plenty of improvement.

"I'd say Fairyhouse (in early December) is probably too soon but I wouldn't rule anything out. I don't really have many juveniles to run: obviously, Hello Neighbour is an exciting one as well.”

Quotes from Michael Graham