Ranjaan boosts his Triumph Hurdle credentials
19th January 2012
Ranjaan ran out the impressive winner of the Read Donald Mccain’s Column on Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Taunton. The four-year-old was racing against seasoned handicappers in the two mile one furlong contest and easily accounted for his 11 rivals on going that was officially good to soft.
Sent off the 7/2 joint-favourite, Ranjaan was settled on the outside in midfield under Daryl Jacob, taking his customary keen hold but settled down the back straight, jumping cleanly and quickly over his hurdles. Moving into third rounding the home turn, Daryl switched Ranjaan to the inside rail where he cruised into the lead. Despite getting close to the last two flights, his stride never altered and he galloped strongly to the line under hands and heels from Daryl to win by three and a half lengths from joint-favourite Third Intention. These two had pulled 11 lengths clear of third placed Devil to Pay.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said after the race, “If Ranjaan had been beaten, he would have gone for the Fred Winter but now that he has won it will be the Triumph Hurdle and he will go straight to Cheltenham now. He was awesome today and is a proper machine.”