‘Top-class’ prospect He’s On Fire draws comparisons to Gaelic Warrior
He's On Fire's impressive victory at Fairyhouse on Sunday has prompted the experts at Timeform to suggest that Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior's owners could have another top-class prospect on their hands.
He's On Fire, who like Gaelic Warrior started his career in France before being bought by Rich and Susannah Ricci and sent to Willie Mullins, had made the most of a straightforward opportunity at Carlisle on his stable debut but was quickly upped to Grade 2 level in the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Despite facing such a steep rise in class and being one of six contenders from his powerhouse stable, He's On Fire was sent off the 3/1 favourite at Fairyhouse and justified his position at the top of the market with a spectacular 12-length victory.
Such a performance earned He's On Fire a Timeform rating of 146p, only 5 lb lower than stablemate King Rasko Grey was awarded following his victory in the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The leading novice this season is Nicky Henderson’s Supreme winner Old Park Star on 157p.
Timeform’s lead jumps analyst Dan Barber said: "He's On Fire clearly had more on his plate than when landing the odds at Carlisle, but he was made favourite in a race featuring a handful of others from the yard and lived up to that billing in no uncertain terms, producing a more striking display visually and one not far behind in terms of form than his stablemate King Rasko Grey had delivered at Cheltenham.
"It was his change of pace that left the deepest impression, immediately shrugging aside an error at the second last to hit the front and quicken away in no time, cutting a figure not dissimilar to the same connections' Gaelic Warrior."
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