I posted recently on the Nicanor that is NOT Barbaro’s brother, who was getting ready to return to racing after a nearly three-year layoff. He did just that on Saturday, making his steeplechasing debut in heavy going at Gowran Park in Ireland. He finished 4th of 17 runners in an effort judged “no more than satisfactory” by the Racing Post. The jockey opted for prudence rather than pushing the horse, which certainly seemed wise for a return after that kind of layoff.
Nicanor holds two entries for the Cheltenham Festival in March, both over fences. His trainer said Nicanor “got very tired in the gluey ground” on Saturday and might race again in Ireland rather than going to Cheltenham. He said he was very pleased with the horse’s jumping, though, in what was really a promising return.