Secret Investor upheld the excellent record of Irish point-to-point graduates in recent renewals of the Grade 2 Persian War Novices’ Hurdle at Chepstow, when claiming the 2018 edition in good style.
The British-bred son of Kayf Tara was sent off as a 5/1 shot for the £40,000 2m 3f contest, as he went in search of a third successive victory following wins at both Stratford and Kempton, and despite racing keenly in the early stage, Secret Investor was never too far from the pace.
Brought to challenge after the penultimate flight by Harry Cobden, the six-year-old struck the front approaching the last, and he ultimately had too much in reserves to fend off Double Treasure.
The two-length victory for Secret Investor ensured that Irish Pointers have now won the Grade 2 prize on five occasions from the last six renewals, with Paul Nicholls’ charge following in the footsteps of the likes of Blaklion and last year’s winner Poetic Rhythm.
Secret Investor was one from one between the flags, winning his only outing for Donnchadh Doyle in a four-year-old maiden at Athlacca, after which he was bought by Nicholls and Bloodstock Agent Tom Malone for £175,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Cheltenham May Sale.
“He always struggled a bit with his wind last year in the soft, so we did his pallet, and it’s just made a big difference to him,” reported the winning trainer when speaking to AtTheRaces.
“He is so much more improved the season and has come in this season for whatever reason just like a different horse. We thought he would go okay, but because he had had the wind op, we were a bit behind and thought that he might improve, so all in all, it’s a much-improved performance.
“He will go novice chasing now as he is only a novice until the 1st of November, and so he has already been schooling over fences and that’s what he will do next.
“He is a proper horse. That is the first time that we have seen him do what we thought he was capable of – it was pleasing.”
Hat-trick for Secret Investor, winner of the Persian War Novices' Hurdle on his return to action for @PFNicholls and @CobdenHarry at @Chepstow_Racing: pic.twitter.com/JniDYjXCHt
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 14, 2018
The two-day Cheptstow October fixture has been a good one for former inmates of Donnchadh Doyle’s Wexford yard, as 24 hours earlier two of his point-to-point winners, filled the first two placings in the day’s feature Listed Novice Chase.
Lisronagh four-year-old winner, Spiritofthegames, returned six lengths in front of Doyle’s Curraghmore five-year-old victor, Monbeg Legend, in the 2m 3f contest.
