Discorama has a spin over hurdles to keep ticking over before National

It’s Navan this weekend not Newbury next for Discorama@nolan_racing explains the decision 👉 https://t.co/lggmpMGaig pic.twitter.com/sH812WzXrp

— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) November 22, 2019

Discorama was given an outing over Limerick on Boxing Day where he ran respectably well, finishing third of five runners in an exercise which was used predominantly to keep the horse ticking over.

The Irish-based gelding has been tipped to line up in the Grand National at Aintree where he is as short as 33/1* with some bookmakers and will join a fleet of horses who are set to cross to the Irish Sea looking to keep up Ireland’s great recent record in the race.

Discorama did not jump very well in the early stages of the race at Limerick. He was not fluent over the opening hurdle, while he was outpaced in the final couple of furlongs of the 2m4f contest, particularly by the winner Easywork who prevailed by an impressive 22-lengths.

Trainer Paul Nolan will be pleased that his horse was able to get out of his stable though and get a run under his belt over the busy Festive period of racing.

Went close to big race success in Martin Pipe

Discorama has some modest form over hurdles. He was always thought to be a chase of the future though. He went close to landing a big prize at the Cheltenham Festival in 2018 as he was second in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle.

The then five-year-old was held up at the rear of the field by jockey Dylan Robinson before making good progress past tired horse in the business end of the race. Unfortunately for his connections, he was unable to reel in Blow By Blow who was a comfortable winner.

Chase debut win came at Naas

The son of Saddler Maker showed his liking for fences with success on his chase debut. He was victorious at Naas where he jumped like an experienced chaser, scoring by just over a length.

Later that season, Discorama lined up in the Grade Two National Hunt Challenge Cup Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Chase, the longest race at the Cheltenham Festival at 3m7½f where he was second of 18 runners, denied by just ½ length.
That race at the Festival has been a good marker for future Grand National horses and he proved to his team that he has the stamina for the marathon distances over fences.

Respectable run in Group One company

Nolan’s stable star finished last season with an impressive second place finish in the Grade One Champion Novice Chase, albeit a long way behind Delta Work who was too good for his rivals that day at Punchestown.

Those two runs at the end of last season help give Nolan lots of options in the 2019/20 campaign, with the Grand National being one of those possibilities.

Grand National decision likely to be made in early 2020

A decision is likely to be made in February with regards to whether Nolan commits towards the 4m2½f at Aintree with his horse.

He has already featured twice over fences this season without success, with his best performance coming on his seasonal reappearances when he was second in a Listed race at Wexford (2m7f).

The Ryanair Chase and Ultima Handicap Chase are also options if he returns to the Cheltenham Festival for a third straight year. Nolan and the horse’s owners will surely be tempted by a shot at the world’s most famous steeplechase though, as National horses don’t come around too often!

*Odds subject to change.