Samuel

Samuel ran a cracker in the two-mile listed race at Sandown on Saturday. This was his first run since he suffered an injury when he finished second in this race two years ago, but despite that he travelled well through the race after racing keenly in the early stages. He looked the most likely winner when he took it up at the two-furlong pole, jockey Robert Havlin was looking around for dangers, but he just seemed to get tired, understandably given that he had been off the track for so long. He got hampered by Illustrious Blue who dived in front of him inside the final furlong, and he eventually finished fourth, beaten around three and a half lengths.

This was a big effort from John Gosden’s gelding, it is understandable that he got tired late on and he should be able to progress from this. The form looks solid, the winner King Of Wands is progressive over this trip now, they are talking in terms of the Goodwood Cup for runner-up Illustrious Blue, the pace was good and the time for the race was over four seconds faster than standard. For a six-year-old, Samuel is still fairly lightly-raced, he has had his problems and connections have been patient with him, but he has shown before that he has lots of ability, he was third to Geordieland in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup two seasons ago and he went on to win a listed race on his subsequent start, with an in-form Tranquil Tiger two lengths back in second place. He looks as though he has come back at least as good as he was then, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next with this run under his girth.

3rd July 2010