Leading hurdler Goshen for trainer Gary Moore is said to be fine after his disappointing return to the track at Haydock on Saturday after finishing last of six on his first run on the level since October 2019.
Goshen came from the flat before his superb hurdling exploits last term and was smart enough to gain a mark of 88 that his trainer believes can still be exploited, with the horse showing he is head and shoulders above that mark.
Goshen was a model of consistency during the jumps season and raced three times over timber and he went on to win his events by a combined 68 lengths before the dreaded fall at the Cheltenham festival.
He looked certain to take extend his unbeaten run in the Grade One Triumph Hurdle on the Friday of the meeting but fell at the final flight when 10 lengths clear.
Not to be for Goshen
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His comeback run on Saturday was to bad to be true with him either needing the run or just a bad day at the office but for Gary Moore, he is still keen to see his star on the flat once more before the jumps season begins.
(Credit ATR) “It was disappointing,” said the Sussex trainer.
“He’s fine this morning – all good.“I hope he just needed the run. At the end of the day he’s a horse rated 88, taking on horses rated nearly 100, and he’s got beat four lengths.
“The winner is no mug – he’s a 102-rated horse on the all-weather – and all the others had fitness on their side.
“It’s definitely still the plan to give him another run on the Flat.”