A Path To Ronda ran a massive race to finish third in Haydock’s Listed Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday 20th December and could easily have won with better luck in running.
In a competitive event, A Path To Ronda was sent off at 5/1. Gavin Sheehan positioned her towards the rear of the field, where she is happiest. She was bumped after the third hurdle but continued to travel comfortably. Turning for home, she was asked to close and made good headway through the field. A slight error at the second last briefly checked her momentum, but she rallied well, regained her position, and began to finish strongly up the inside just over a furlong from home. At the final flight, the leader hesitated significantly and wandered around, forcing Ronda to check sharply and momentarily lose momentum. Once regathered, she attempted to challenge on the inside, but the gap closed and she was unable to find a clear run.
After the race, jockey Gavin Sheehan gave us his verdict on the performance:
“She was very good, it was a massive run. I felt like the pace was strong, I was riding her for a bit of luck. She was jumping right which was making life a bit difficult. Turning in I thought we had it all to play for and after jumping the second last I thought we’ll come away and win the race. Coming to the last, the one in front of me jammed on and jumped a bit left and right and tried to run out through the wing. It stopped us in our tracks and we would have won otherwise.”
Trainer Jamie Snowden reported after the race:
“It was a cracking run to get black type, but a great shame not to win it. I think we had every chance but got trapped a couple of times up the home straight and lost a little bit of momentum and that all counts. Obviously at the last the second horse came across us and jammed on and we almost jumped into the back of her. We had to switch up the inside and couldn’t get past the whip in the left hand of the jockey on the second horse. Several things went against us there that stopped us winning and we can go to the Grade 2 at Sandown next without a penalty.”
This was a huge performance from A Path To Ronda and we can all look forward to the Grade 2 Jane Seymour at Sandown next, where she will hopefully enjoy a more straightforward passage through the race. Her owners enjoyed a fantastic day at Haydock and clearly have a very talented mare to look forward to for the remainder of the season and beyond.
A limited number of shares are still available in A Path To Ronda for just £750 per share HERE.
