Landrake – SOLD

At the Andy & Gemma Brown dispersal on Monday I bought Landrake on-spec for €50,000.

He is a fairly lightly raced 7yo gelding by Martaline and a winner of two hurdle races last season earning him an Irish mark of 135 (rpr 140).  He beat Corbetts Cross in his first hurdle start last season who went on to challenge Stay Away Fay at the final hurdle of the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett at the Festival and is now second fav for the National Hunt Chase.

This season over fences has clearly not gone to plan with him losing confidence over the obstacles and a return to hurdles is sensible.  He was actually still in touch of a couple of 142 & 147 rated (higher UK) chasers last time out before a bad mistake, one of which he finished within half a length of last season.  He can still have lofty targets like the Coral Cup where he would likely carry a very competitive racing weight.

In the future, he still has scope to step up to 3 miles and he loves Soft ground (there is plenty of stamina in the pedigree given his dam is a half-sister to a Grand National winner).  His half-sister, Aston Martini is unbeaten in three runs for Nicky Henderson and could be anything.

He could be aimed at Aintree where there are a couple of Premier Handicaps over 2m4f & 3m1/2f.  He would still remain a novice chaser for next season.