Crackentorp

Crackentorp ran well to finish third in a good Class 2 two-mile handicap at Haydock on Saturday. Held up early on, the son of Generous made nice headway through his field and arrived there at the top of the home straight looking the most likely winner. A fairly hefty bump that he received from Urban Poet just as they straightened up didn’t help, but he was just outstayed on the soft ground by Dayia and My Arch. This was Crackentorp’s first attempt at two miles, but he did keep on well enough to finish third, in front of Stanstill and Aaim To Prosper, so it is difficult to say that he didn’t stay the trip. It is probable that he was just undone by the soft ground.

The only other time that he has raced on soft ground, at Catterick in April, he has disappointed, so he is well worth another try over two miles on better ground. He is a nice progressive sort, he started favourite for the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot last year, when he shaped as if a step up in trip would suit, and he put in a hugely promising effort to finish second to Hanoverian Baron in a good handicap at York over a mile and a half on his last run before last Saturday. He remains of interest wherever he goes next, and he could be one for the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle at the end of this month off his new mark of 92, just 1lb higher than the mark off which he raced on Saturday, as long as the ground didn’t come up soft.

29th May 2010