Dhaular Dhar

Dhaular Dhar was the other horse to take out of the seven-furlong handicap run at Chester on Saturday for me. Daniel Tudhope seemed to want to miss the break and settle him behind runners through the first furlong and a half, which he duly did. Disputing last place with Axiom and on the rails the whole way around to the home straight, the rider didn’t make an effort to pull him wide at any stage, he clung to the inside and waited for the gaps to appear. Unfortunately, they weren’t forthcoming, and by the time he pulled out and around, the race had gone beyond him. He did make progress among horses up the short home straight, but it was all too late, and he finished full of running. Dhaular Dhar has run 66 times now and doesn’t have too many secrets from anyone any more. However, he had dropped down to a handicap rating of 95 for this, which is a mark off which he can win, given that he was only just beaten in the really competitive Totesport International Handicap by Laa Rayb last July off a mark of 99. He loves it at Chester, so it is probable that Jim Goldie had trained him specifically for this valuable handicap from some way out.

He will be interesting wherever he goes next. He is a seven-furlong specialist, and the other track that seems to bring out the best in him is Ascot. He will be interesting if he runs next at Chester or Ascot.

22nd August 2009