Horses To Follow » Poet’s Place

Poet’s Place

Poet’s Place ran out a really easy winner of a six-furlong handicap at Haydock on Saturday, and there could be a lot more to come from him. He was always in control here, with Philip Makin back on board, he raced prominently alongside Harry Patch, took it up at the two-furlong pole and came away from his rivals inside the final furlong.

Poet’s Place was well-backed here and he ran out a ready winner in the end. He was well-backed on his previous run as well in a really competitive heritage handicap at Ascot, but he was trying seven furlongs for the first time there, which may have caught him out, along with his inexperience that may have counted against him in a 21-runner field. A return to six furlongs suited him here and he was encountering soft conditions for the first time, which he appeared to handle really well. The handicapper has rewarded him with a 10lb hike, but a mark of 96 could still under-estimate his ability. David Barron’s gelding is lightly-raced for a five-year-old, he only began racing at four, so there could be a lot more to come. The Ayr Gold Cup would be interesting for him, especially on easy ground.

7th August 2010