Above The Rest

Above The Rest was unlucky in the seven-furlong handicap at York on 23rd July. Slowly away from stall eight, he was dropped in through the early stages of the race by Graham Lee as Swift Approval settled into his habitual front-running role. Last of the 10 runners as they straightened up for home, and nicely settled in his first-time hood, he travelled well at the top of the home straight. Short of room two and a half furlongs out, he moved towards the inside in order to try to manoeuvre his way through traffic, but his path was continually blocked. Lee actually had to take a pull and come back around the ultimate winner Get Knotted deep inside the final furlong and, once he got his horse out into the clear, he finished off his race well to take second place, just a neck behind the winner.

He did look unlucky, and there is a danger that he will be over-bet next time, as unlucky-looking losers often are. However, he really was unlucky, it is difficult to argue that he was not the best horse in the race. More than that, however, usually a prominent racer, there was a lot to like about the way the he settled in behind horses here. He gave himself a chance of getting home, which he duly did, and this opens up more options for him.

David Barron’s horse is entered in a seven-and-a-half-furlong handicap at Chester this Saturday, and he will be of interest if he takes his chance in that off just a 3lb higher mark.

23^rd July 2016