Firestream defied an absence of 718 days with a highly pleasing success under top weight of twelve stone in his first handicap at Wincanton on Thursday.
He was off for so long because of a tendon strain and a few niggly little issues but had been going nicely at home in recent weeks, ticking over waiting for the right opportunity.
Given that he won his maiden hurdle by twenty one lengths, I felt a mark of 127 was workable but you can never be too sure after such a lengthy time on the side-lines.
So it was good to see him up with the leaders from the start, racing enthusiastically, before edging ahead after the third last flight and keeping on willingly to beat Highlands Legacy by a length and three quarters.
He jumped well in the main for Sam Twiston-Davies bar the final two hurdles and came home with a bit to spare.
It was a fine performance by Firestream after almost two years off and I’m not in a rush to turn him out again quickly.
I have the option of looking for a Pertemps qualifier for him in a few weeks time or maybe keeping him for a three mile handicap at Aintree.
He has always had a decent level of ability and long term I’ve always felt his future lies over fences.
