Backspin connections disappointed Connections of the ex-Mag Mullins trained Backspin have been left scratching their heads after his display at Cheltenham on Saturday. The previously unbeaten six-year-old, formerly part-owned by the Furlong family from New Ross, lined up for the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle having already won at the highest level at Newbury. That form had been franked when the runner-up from the Challow Hurdle, Emma Lavelle's Court In Motion, hacked up in a decent race at Warwick. However, Backspin faded tamely at the weekend behind Bobs Worth, eventually finishing fourth, and Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, is at a loss to explain the performance of the Jonjo O'Neill-trained gelding. "He was disappointing, you'd have to say that," said Berry "Nothing has come to light as of yet. "He travelled well into the straight but stopped quickly so that was disappointing. He didn't get home for whatever reason. Maybe that's as good as he is. "The form of the Challow worked out well with the runner-up winning so well at Warwick. "I think he'll still go to the Festival but he'd have to improve on that for us to be going there with any confidence." Backspin is now out to 14-1 for the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle in March.
