'He appears to have a big engine' - Challow Hurdle likely next stop for exciting four-year-old Montemares

A highly-promising Challow Novices' Hurdle contender emerged in the 2m4½f novice hurdle as Montemares took some notable scalps under Stan Sheppard.

The four-year-old smoothly defied a penalty to beat some smart rivals, including the 5-6 favourite Harry Lowes, and his trainer Tom Lacey is harbouring Grade 1 ambitions.

"He's still a work in progress, so he appears to have a big engine," the trainer said. "He's always shown plenty at home and impressed us away from home. He appears to stay and he's got a bit of boot at the end of his races, as well as a good attitude, so he's got all the right attributes to be a good racehorse. 

"The first race that sprung to my mind for him was the Challow [at Newbury on December 29], but we'll have a look at the calendar. Physically he'll do some filling out, and by default he has to strengthen up, but I don't see any reason to step up in trip at the moment. He should get further in time."

Like Lacey's decent staying chaser Cruz Control, Montemares runs in the colours of John and Gay Chinn. The owners took a risk when buying the gelding, who fetched €45,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale last June.

"I bought him as an unbroken store to go point-to-pointing," Lacey explained. "He's got a poor scope at rest with his larynx – when he's working he's got open airways, but at rest it's lazy – so I asked Mr Chinn to take a punt on what I thought was potentially a good horse as he wouldn't pass the vet at any auction. It's a nice story."

Montemares was Lacey's fourth winner from his last 13 runners, meaning he is operating at an excellent 31 per cent strike-rate. 

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