Timeform Horses To Follow 2008/09 National Hunt Season: Pterodactyl

/ Timeform / 01 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Keep an eye on Pterodactyl - he hasn't won on a British racecourse yet but it's just a matter of time, say Timeform.

Pterodactyl hasn't landed in the winner's enclosure on a British racecourse as yet, but it surely won't be long before he does. A fairly useful performer on the Flat in France, when trained by John Hammond, Pterodactyl finished in the frame on all three starts for current connections in his first season over hurdles, looking unlucky when runner-up in two-mile novice events at Taunton and Towcester.

A mistake at the last proved costly on the former course, while he was set too much to do when beaten a length and three quarters by previous winner Pop on the latter. Pterodactyl, who ran on really strongly from two out when finally asked for greater effort, left the strong impression he should have run out an emphatic winner at Towcester, and it came as no surprise when his jockey was handed a ten-day ban for riding an ill-judged race. In between those runs, Pterodactyl seemed to find his stamina stretched over two and a half miles on soft ground at Chepstow, and while he may stay that far under less-testing conditions it could be that he will prove best around two miles.

Pterodactyl had form over as far as a mile and a half on the Flat but his two wins in that sphere came at shorter, the second of them a mile-and-a-quarter handicap at Longchamp in September in which he wore blinkers. Incidentally, both wins were gained on good to firm going, although he also proved effective on soft.

Miss Venetia Williams. Timeform Rating: 111p - 6 b.g Montjeu (Ire) - Blue Kestrel (Ire) (Bluebird (USA))

Entered: Wednesday, Chepstow 12.25.