Interception

Interception put up a good performance to finish second in the fillies’ listed six-furlong race at Haydock on Saturday.

Slowly away and dropped on from her low draw on the far side by George Baker, she travelled well through her race in behind runners, last of the 12 fillies. Still travelling well as they passed the two-furlong pole, she made nice progress as she got the gaps through the field, and she picked up well when her rider asked her to. While she just couldn’t catch the surprise winner Blhadawa, she ran all the way to the line, closing on the winner and putting a nice gap between herself and the rest of the field.

There were several elements about this performance from David Lanigan’s filly. Firstly, she was poorly drawn, towards the far side, away from the stands rail. Secondly, she raced in rear in a race in which the pace held up well. The other three fillies who, with her, filled the first four places, all raced handily. Thirdly, she ran all the way to the line, she could have won the race had she got the gaps earlier. And fourthly, it looked like a solid race, the pace was consistent throughout and the time was good, the fastest comparative time on the day and just 0.07secs/furlong slower than Racing Post par.

Winner of three of her four races as a three-year-old, all three on the all-weather, the Raven’s Pass filly was progressive again last year as a four-year-old, winning a handicap at Lingfield over six furlongs on fast ground in September off a mark of 88, and finishing a close-up third behind Al Thakhira in a listed race at Ascot over six furlongs on soft ground in October. This was her seasonal debut, and it was another step forward. She improved for her seasonal debut at three and at four, so it is reasonable to assume that she will progress again for this. She is adaptable, she is effective over six and seven furlongs, and on fast ground and on easy ground, but seven furlongs or a fast-run stiff six is probably her optimum.

The handicapper raised her 5lb for this run, but that is fair, she should still be able to operate off a mark of 102. She also goes well on Polytrack and at Ascot, so that leaves her with lots of options. She is in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, and she will be of interest if she takes her chance in that, her hold-up style of racing should be well-suited to that race. She will be interesting wherever she goes next.

23rd May 2015