Aattash

Aattash ran a cracker from the front, in what was a most competitive three-year-old 10-furlong handicap at Goodwood on Thursday. He was rushed up by Sam Hitchcott to get a lead after about a furlong in and he set a fairly solid pace from there. Still leading and travelling well, he had the field well strung out just before the straight. It looked as if Hitchcott saved him a bit early in the straight, he just slowed it down before kicking on again, and it was only inside the final furlong that he was overhauled.

Aattash has been seen too much better effect since connections decided to change tactics and front-run with him, and this was a really good effort from the son of Clodovil. He set a really fast pace, too fast as it turned out, illustrated by the fact that the race was ultimately dominated by horses that came from the back and by the fact that the time dipped below standard, the joint-fastest comparative time on the day. The horses that raced just behind the pace, Solicitor and Big Audio, finished last and third last.

Aattash looks promising now, the form of the race he won at Goodwood before this has really worked out, with the runner-up, Start Right, having now won twice since. There should be more to come from Mick Channon’s gelding, and he will be interesting wherever he turns up next, especially if it looks like he will be able to dictate up front.

29th July 2010