He Rock's can roll on to fresh success after unlucky Galway run

More often than not, horses who win handicap chases by wide margins in the summer and early autumn rise in the ratings to an extent that can make life difficult for them in big handicaps when the serious time of the jumps season arrives.

He Rock's, who won handicaps at Galway and Roscommon by nine lengths and 22 lengths respectively, just might be an exception. Following a 21lb hike in the ratings, the Steve Mahon-trained seven-year-old was in action at Galway, his home track, on Monday and, while he finished only fifth behind Hash Brown in the feature event, the bare facts go nowhere near telling the whole story.

Having been brought to a standstill when his stablemate Aranhill Chief exited the race at the third fence, his confidence was clearly dented and he blundered at the fourth. Again badly hampered by a faller on the second circuit, he crept into contention on the descent to the last two fences before failing to make any impression on the leaders on the long climb to the finish.