THE RUTLAND REBEL. 29 March 2016. Delegator-Do Disturb Owner-Ryder Sugden.
The Rutland Rebel is one of those late developing horses who needs lots of time and patience. He didn't see a racecourse until October of his two year old season, making his debut over seven furlongs at Redcar, being given a lovely educational ride from Dougie Costello, further experience was gained at the back end of the month at Doncaster.
He kicked off his three year old career with a staying on forth at Wetherby over seven furlongs, then stepping up to a mile at Redcar in a better race, he probably backed up that form in finishing a close fifth. He made his handicap debut off 67, over one mile and two furlongs at Ripon, but after missing the break could never get involved.
He got off the mark at the seventh time of asking under Patrick Millman in the Amateur Maiden Handicap, at Pontefract in August of 2019 , in what at the time looked like a shocking race, but has since worked out very well, with the runner up Gylo winning his next three, the third horse Brutalab won two of his next three, and the forth placed horse, our very own Burnage Boy, reached a rating of 105. over hurdles.
He had one more run on the flat after that, when never getting involved in the soft ground at Beverley.He made his hurdles debut at Wetherby in October, when a mistake early on appeared to knock his confidence, he then ran on two further occasions in juvenile hurdles at Catterick, and was now eligible for a handicap mark.
The Rutland Rebel couldn't run after that due to lock-down, and so after an extended break he returned at Thirsk in September 2020, and ran as if the race was badly needed, coming home in sixth place, under a considerate ride from Graham Lee.In November at Market Rasen he made his handicap hurdle debut off a mark of 94, over their extended two and a half miles, but disappointed badly trailing in last of the 12 runners. It was back to the flat in December, where The Rutland Rebel made his all weather debut at Wolverhampton over 14 furlongs.After missing the break, he made good late headway to finish a 12 lengths fourth to his stablemate Lleyton, but more tellingly only four lengths behind the horse who finished second.He was back at Wolverhampton in January 2021, and the step up to 17 furlongs seemed the right thing to do, and so it proved when he asserted inside the final furlong to come home in front by a length and a quarter. His latest run was on February 17th, back at Wolverhampton, and from a 5lb higher mark. The trip of 14 furlongs was the worry, as it may not have been far enough to bring out the best in him, but after running close to the pace, in what was not a fast run race, he outstayed his rivals to win with more in hand than the three and a half lengths would suggest. This performance was better than the bare result suggests, because a longer trip, and a faster pace would have suited more. The Rutland Rebel is improving fast, and that handicap hurdle mark looks very tasty. TO BE CONTINUED.