Borderlescott

Borderlescott ran a cracker in the King’s Stand Stakes at Ascot on Tuesday. Settled in midfield in the group that raced off the stand rail, he made his effort two furlongs out and made good ground inside the final two furlongs, but he could never go with Equiano who blitzed up the stands-side rail for most of the race. He was probably at a disadvantage racing towards the centre of the track, but he kept on really well into third and this was another promising run.

This was a really promising run from Borderlescott, considering that this is not really his time of year and that out of his last three runs at Royal Ascot, he had never finished better than fourth. The Robin Bastiman-trained gelding has begun this season well again with three solid efforts, but he is never at his best until later in the season. He is fairly closely matched with Equiano, only marginally beaten by him in their two runs before this, and the Barry Hills-trained horse had the advantage of the stand-rail here. Borderlescott will go back to York for the Nunthorpe again this season to defend his title, and he could be one of the leading payers in the race again, possibly at a decent price, as he is eight years old now and not so fashionable. August is his month. Remarkably, he has run eight times in August in his life, he has won five times, finished second beaten a short head twice, and finished third beaten three parts of a length once. Also, he has won three times at York in four runs there, and he looks to be as good as ever this year.

12th June 2010