Dawson City

Dawson City was unlucky not to win the Somerset National at Wincanton last Thursday.

Quickly into a nice rhythm just behind the leaders, he got in tight to a couple of his fences, which did not help his momentum, and he looked to be struggling a little when Golden Chieftain and Krackatoa King went on half way down the back straight. However, he kept finding for Andrew Thornton’s urgings, he moved in behind the two leaders as they left the back straight as the three of them moved clear of the remainder.

He moved up on the inside of Krackatoa King on the run around the home turn, moved up to join Golden Chieftain on the run to the third last fence, and had just hit the front as they approached the obstacle. However, he got in tight to the fence, landed awkwardly and slipped, losing lots of momentum and doing well to remain upright. He really lost all chance with that mistake, but he still kept on again over the last two fences and up the run-in to get to within three lengths of the winner. That error at the third last had to have cost him at least five or six lengths, and that is without counting the momentum that he lost or the energy that he had to use up.

This was just Polly Gundry’s horse’s third chase. A progressive handicap hurdler last season, he was unlucky on his previous run too, he was in front and there with a winning chance at the third last fence when a loose horse came across him and caused him to unseat his rider. Despite that error at the third last, Thursday’s run was still the best of his career. The handicapper has raised him 4lb for it but, still just seven, he has the potential to progress by more than that now, and his new mark of 129 could under-estimate his potential by a fair way. He is a thorough stayer, he goes well on soft and heavy ground, and there could be a decent staying handicap chase in him now before the ground dries out too much.

21^st January 2016