METIER MAINTAINED HIS unbeaten record over obstacles with a facile victory in the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown.
A useful performer on the Flat in Ireland for Andrew Slattery, the Mastercraftsman gelding subsequently changed hands for 150,000 guineas to pursue a jumping career with Harry Fry.
He made a fine start for his new connections when impressing on his hurdling bow at Newton Abbot in October – and having since doubled his tally with a dominant front-running display at Ascot, Metier was the 7-4 favourite to complete his hat-trick in this Grade One feature.
A class performance from the winner in the @Unibet Tolworth Hurdle ⭐
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) January 2, 2021
The exciting Metier notches up a Grade 1 for the @HarryFryRacing1 team, with @Sean_Bowen_ on board in the Gary Stevens colours 🏆 pic.twitter.com/YUZZQ8KInO
Always travelling well in the hands of Sean Bowen, the five-year-old loomed up to challenge long-time leader Shakem Up’Arry early in the home straight.
The latter did his best to make a race of it, but Metier had far too many guns and powered clear in the testing conditions to score emphatically by 12 lengths.
