Some Man and Rob James© Photo Healy Racing
Bought out of the point-to-points here for 165,000 pounds in 2017, before last year returning to these shores for 5,500, there’s an interesting story behind David Christie’s Some Man already. There are more chapters to come, judging by his success in the concluding Rathronan Maiden Hunters Chase at Clonmel today.
Out of an unraced sister to the mighty Denman, and a half-brother to winners, Polly Pechum, Le Dauphin and Polly’s Pursuit, this afternoon Some Man added a racecourse success to three already gained ‘between the flags.’
He got a lovely patient steer from off the pace by Rob James.
From the time the well-backed favourite (15/8 into 6/4) moved up with his effort in the straight, backers and connections were on good terms with themselves.
The Beat Hollow gelding eventually eased away to score by seven lengths and two and a quarter lengths from Saint Benedict and Concrete King
Dylrow did Christie proud, also in the Ray Nicholas silks, in the same sphere, at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day, and after this win the Derrylin, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh handler said: “If it had been on normal ground, I thought he'd have done that, but seeing good horses strung out today, I was very worried about it.
"He was very very keen when we got him and I knew if he didn't relax on that ground today, he was going to be gone in a couple of hundred yards when you'd ask for him. Rob said he relaxed and got into a lovely rhythm and for me personally, he is as good as I've had and is a proper horse.
"He had lots of problems when I bought him at a dispersal sale for GBP5,500 last May.
"He is not a slow horse either and I'll qualify him for Cheltenham. He has to be placed in another hunter chase or win an Open Point to Point so I'll go the easiest possible route I can take."
(TW & EM)
