Dungannon

Dungannon just never got a run in the six-furlong handicap at Ascot on Saturday. He travelled really well just behind the leaders and just as he was looking for a way out between the front two Imperial Guest improved on his outside to take the gap. Jimmy Fortune switched right in behind to try to find a gap towards the inside but a gap was not immediately forthcoming there either, and his chance was completely gone when the winner Imperial Guest edged to his right and caused a concertina effect. Dungannon was probably worst affected, he just had absolutely nowhere to go. It was all to late when he got in the clear but he did move on under a hands and heels ride from Jimmy Fortune and appeared to finish full of running.

Obviously it is impossible to say that Dungannon would have won this race as the interference came too far out and the winner showed a good turn of foot to get to the lead and may have been just idling in front, but Dungannon was going just as well when first denied a run and was still cantering over on the far side about a furlong and a half out when again denied a gap.

His last run last season was probably his best of his life, finishing a close second here in a Class 2 handicap (Iver Bridge Lad who has run some really good races in the first part of this season was a place behind him there) and he seems to have resumed in similar form as he was off a career high mark of 90 today. A lot of his trainer’s horses improve from three to four and that could well be the case with this one too, he should be able to continue his progression from the end of last season this term. He runs Ascot well, and he still might be one for one of the big handicaps here.

7th May 2011