Christie hoping bargain buy Some Man can shine David Christie is hoping for big things from Some Man who is set to make his first start in hunter chase company at Clonmel on Thursday. The Beat Hollow gelding won two point-to-points in October for the Fermanagh handler having been picked up for just £5,500 at the sales last spring. Injuries have blighted the career of the seven-year-old who ran just three times for Paul Nicholls in England. “He won his point-to-point as a four-year-old in Portrush and was then sold for £165,000,” said Christie. “He's out of a full-sister to Denman, so is very well bred and bred to stay. “He was part of the Grech & Parkin dispersal sale at Doncaster and I went there with an eye on him, he was one of a couple I wanted to have a look at. “When I got to see him he was carrying no condition whatsoever and was in very poor condition. “He couldn't be trotted up because his feet were so sore. He was also a windsucker, a weaver, a box walker and had also previously fractured his pelvis, which is why he'd had a break, and he'd also had a wind operation. “When he'd had all those things, and also with the way he looked and the fact that he couldn't be trotted up, I thought well there aren't going to be too many people interested in this horse. “I just love that kind of a horse. He was still young so I took a punt on him. “He's done well and is thriving now. He's looking well and is in great order. He's a very quirky horse. “He's a very exciting young horse with not too much experience. He won his two point-to-points well and he beat the winner of the Limerick hunter chase (Samurai Cracker) easily first time. “Hopefully things go well with him. He's just a very nice horse and I think he's a horse with a big future if everything goes his way. He has a huge engine. “Funnily enough when I looked through his form I'd imagine he's better moving left-handed and this will be his first run right-handed ever. “He's in good order and we're hoping that he shows us something. If he could show us something then we could plan from there. “Down the line whether it's this year or next year, if he stays in one piece, I genuinely see him as a Cheltenham Foxhunters horse. “Rob (James) rides him because he went in with a third share with me and Ray Nicholas. “He had ridden him in his four-year-old race and had really liked him. He was there that day when we bought him and we made that agreement there and then. “He's a horse that if everything would go right for him, and he had no mishaps, I think he's the real deal.”
