Blinkers for the first time and a return to fences saw Juggernaut put on a sparkling display in a two-mile Class 4 Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on Monday, ridden by Chad Bament in the colours of the Anthony Honeyball Racing Club.
Credit for trying the blinkers must go to our 10lb-claiming conditional jockey James Robottom, who has ridden him a few times over hurdles this summer and felt that it was time to try something different, as he hadn’t shown his usual zip in his last couple of races.
When I saw Monday’s race in the calendar, I felt that if Juggernaut was in the right frame of mind, it was an ideal opportunity for him to have another crack over fences.
The blinkers certainly made a difference, as they switched him on a bit more, and he put in a really good round of jumping before leading two out and absolutely flying up the run-in.
It was lovely to see Juggernaut look like an out-and-out progressive chaser, though, given his name, it’s ironic that he is not that big – perhaps 15.3hh and quite slight, though athletic.
He returned with a little bit of a cut that will prevent us from turning him out quickly, but he has been busy enough over the summer and can enjoy a short break before running again in three or four weeks.
