Fork Handles

Fork Handles is worth another chance after her run to finish fourth in a seven-furlong listed event at Sandown on Thursday. Mick Channon’s filly got upset in the stalls beforehand, and she missed the break quite badly as a result, which meant that she had to race well back off what was a fairly steady pace, probably because there was a worry about the ground on the turn, with Tactician appearing to lose his footing on it in the previous race. This race was dominated by the horses who raced prominently, with the winner Lily Again leading all the way, but Fork Handles finished best of all up the hill, making up significant ground inside the final furlong to be closest at the finish.

This was just the daughter of Doyen’s second ever run, she had won an uncompetitive four-runner fillies’ six-furlong maiden at Haydock on her racecourse debut. She was weak enough in the market for this race, but there was a lot to like about her run and, given that she looks bred for stamina, she should improve again when she gets a truer pace over this distance or if she steps up in trip again.

22nd July 2010