25th-Oct-2014

Dungannon won this race last year, and signs are that he is running back into form again this year.

Last year, he raced off a mark of 95 and he beat high-class sprinters like Hawkeyethenoo, Pearl Blue, Jamaican Bolt and Steps. He travelled well through his race and he picked up impressively to go clear when Oisin Murphy went for him, before the others closed him down close home. He was the winner on merit.

This year, he gets to race off a mark of 96, just 1lb higher. Okay, so Oisin Murphy does not have his 5lb claim any more, but you can easily argue that, one year on, he is a 5lb better rider.

Dungannon was a little out of sorts earlier in the season, with the result that his handicap mark dropped from 101 to 92, but he has been much better in his last three runs. On his most recent run at Ascot three weeks ago, he held on well to beat Khubala by a short head, and Khubala ran well to finish third to Jamaican Bolt in the handicap at Doncaster yesterday. A 4lb hike for that run is fair, and it still leaves him 5lb lower than his peak.

That race was over five furlongs, Dungannon goes well over that trip, he handles soft ground well and he has won twice at Doncaster. He is drawn in stall four, which is not bad, you wouldn’t have wanted to have been too close to the stands rail yesterday. All looks set for a big run.

DUNGANNON WON (ADV 15/2, SP 13/2)