Haajes

Haajes did really well to finish fourth from stall four in the competitive five and a half furlong sprint won by Hamish McGonagall at York on Tuesday. It looked like that those drawn low were on the slowest part of the track, you are usually much better drawn high on the straight course at York when the stalls are on the far side, as they were here, and all the early pace was on the near side, which exacerbated the draw disadvantage. Haajes had to do all his running on the far side of the field, but he finished best of all to take fourth, beaten just a head for third.

The Indian Ridge gelding is in the form of his life now for Paul Midgley, who just took him on this season, and he can be marked up a fair bit on the bare form of this run. It is significant that the horses who were drawn around him finished ninth, twelfth, second-last and last. He did finish off his race well over this five and a half furlong trip, but all his best form is at the minimum distance, and he may do even better now dropped back down to the bare five furlongs. He is probably at his best on good or easy ground, so he could do well now coming in the autumn. The handicapper has dropped him a pound for this, which looks generous, and he looks well capable of winning again this season.

17th August 2010