Dunguib set for next hurdle

With all due respect to those who still have unfinished business on the Flat – notably in the final Group One race of the British season, the Racing Post Trophy at Doncaster on Saturday – none can feasibly claim to have been any more impressive, in galloping over level ground this year, than Dunguib.

It is hard to believe that a more arresting horse has ever emerged from "bumper" racing. Though the nursery discipline's championship race, at the Cheltenham Festival, reliably produces top-class horses, it has never been won in such breathtaking fashion as by Dunguib in March. He seemed no less of a freak when following up at Punchestown, and is already as short as 3-1 with the sponsors for the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle – still five months distant.

While the rest of us get carried away, Dunguib himself leaves the ground for the first time on Sunday for a maiden hurdle at Galway. The first time in public, that is. As his trainer explained yesterday, he was already testing the water back in the spring. "He had a bit of a school before he went into the field for the summer," Philip Fenton said. "And he had an outdoor school before Punchestown, too, just over barrels and baby hurdles. He seems pretty good now. He was a little bit careless to start with, but I suppose you'd sooner they were like that than too careful. Really we've just let him figure it out for himself."

It is the horse's progress in another regard that really seems to be pleasing the County Tipperary trainer. "We turned him out a couple of weeks after Punchestown, and he came back in at the end of July," Fenton said. "And I must say he seems much stronger now. He was always quite a light-framed horse, but he has done very well indeed over the summer."

Having gained so much experience in bumpers – he contested five altogether – Dunguib is likely to be kept fairly fresh for the spring festivals. "All being well, I'd say he would probably only have a couple of runs this side of Christmas," Fenton said. "Then we'd give him an easy time before bringing him back with Cheltenham in view. We'll find out through the season if he has to be upped in trip, but at the moment I'd say two miles is as far as he needs to go."

The sky being the only relevant limit, Dunguib might well have run in different colours this season. His owners found him for just €13,000 (£11,760) as a foal and have had plenty of opportunity to cash in. "They've had a few offers," Fenton confirmed. "But I don't think he's ever been for sale, really."

Fenton noted that Some Present and Sweeps Hill, second at Cheltenham and Punchestown respectively, have already won their first hurdle races this autumn. And there is no mistaking the daily increase in calibre of the jumpers now returning to the fray. After saddling Tataniano to win at Exeter on Tuesday, Paul Nicholls yesterday introduced another obvious candidate for the top novice steeplechases at Worcester.

Pride of Dulcote finished a close second in a Grade One novice hurdle at the Festival, but had lacked fluency earlier in the season. So the champion trainer was relieved to see him enjoy little more than a schooling session under Ruby Walsh in the Fred Rimell Memorial Novices' Chase – pursued throughout, with steadily diminishing hope, by just two rivals.

"He was clumsy at a few of his hurdles and Ruby came off him a few times, so it was important to get in a clear round first time over fences," Nicholls said. Coral duly cut him to 16-1 from 25-1, behind Mikael d'Haguenet – though the 5-1 favourite's own chasing debut has been delayed until Christmas by a setback.

Turf account: Chris McGrath

Nap

Al Qeddaaf (7.20 Kempton) Remains unexposed at this trip, having been trapped on the bridle when trying it for the first time on a recent visit to this course. He looked as though he would otherwise have got involved in the finish that day.

Next best

Chat De La Burg (6.20 Kempton) Started off in a pretty weak maiden by Newmarket standards and drops in trip here, but looked an alert type and his pedigree – by Johannesburg out of a dirt mare – guarantees that he will enjoy this surface.

One to watch

Galant Nuit (Ferdy Murphy) Remains unexposed over fences after an improved performance at Aintree in the spring, and shaped nicely on first start since at Cheltenham the other day.

Where the money's going

Flying Cross, one of five Ballydoyle colts who yesterday contested the mile maiden at Navan, is 20-1 for the Investec Derby with Sky Bet.