Third Time Lucky

Third Time Lucky was unlucky to finish just fifth in the big Clipper Logistics one-mile handicap at York on Thursday. Well away from stall three, he was settled back in mid-division behind a blistering pace that That Is The Spirit set. Sixth or seventh and on the inside as they rounded the home turn, he travelled well to the three-furlong pole for Tony Hamilton. Moved towards the far side, Hamilton still hadn’t gone for everything as they passed the two-furlong pole, but he got squeezed up as the ultimate winner Firmament came past on the near side. Hamilton had to snatch up a little before asking his horse to pick up again but, while he closed on the third horse Red Napoleon on the run to the line, he just didn’t have enough time to get past him, and he was mugged right on the line by Spark Plug for fourth place.

This was much more like it from Richard Fahey’s horse. Winner of the Camridgeshire last year September off a mark of 95, he was well beaten on his first two runs this term but, dropped 2lb to a mark of 100, this was a good step forward again. He would not have beaten Firmament however the race had panned out, but he could have finished third at worst had he had a clear run through.

This was a good race. The winner was potentially well-handicapped on his all-weather form, while the second and third are both highly-progressive unexposed horses, so Third Time Lucky did well to get in among them. He should improve for the move to slightly easier ground, and there could be another big handicap in him in the autumn.

18^th August 2016