FINAL DEMAND offered a tantalising glimpse of what lies ahead after a flawless chasing debut.
The gigantic six-year-old left his trainer Willie Mullins purring as he made the transition to fences look effortless at Navan.
He was one of the best novice hurdlers around last year, with the only blemish on his record coming at Cheltenham when he was third behind The New Lion.
The season ended on a high note when he thumped a good field at Punchestown but, as the old saying goes, whatever he achieved over hurdles was a bonus.
This is a staying chaser through and through, and the bookies unsurprisingly slashed him into 6-4 (from 9-4) for the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival.
At the risk of getting carried away, you’d fancy he will go off a much shorter price come March, though we’ll learn more when he steps up in grade at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
He briefly looked like he might have a race on his hands two out in the 2m4f beginners’ chase, when Gordon Elliott’s plucky Wingmen tried to launch a challenge.
But a slight shake of the reins was all Final Demand needed to go up through the gears, and he strolled clear to win by 13 lengths after an excellent round of jumping.
Mullins said: “He was just so natural, wasn’t he? Jumping down the back watching him taking fences in his stride.
“I got a little worried coming to the third-last that he was getting a little tired and I thought Jack Kennedy on Wingmen was getting a little closer.
Most read in Horse Racing
“When they were over the third-last, Paul just gave him a squeeze and a shake, and next thing he just started opening up again. His jumping was so effortless, it was fantastic.
“I’m hoping there is still plenty of improvement in him. He wouldn’t have been wound up for today or anything.
“On to Christmas maybe, then the Dublin Racing Festival and fingers crossed after that.”
The stars keep coming on Monday in Britain and Ireland, as the top two in the betting for the Arke make their chasing debuts within an hour and 20 minutes of each other.
Nicky Henderson’s top-class four-year-old Lulamba will have his first start over fences at Exeter at 2.00, while Mullins’ Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Kopek Des Bordes runs in Navan’s 3.20.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
