Flying Pursuit

Flying Pursuit out-ran odds of 33/1 by a fair way in the 7f handicap. Prominent from early, Tim Easterby’s horse travelled well in the front rank for Rachel Richardson into the home straight. He came under pressure on the run to the 2f marker, and he was passed by Firmament and Admirality on the near side, but he still kept on well enough to retain fourth place.

This was much more like it from Flying Pursuit after four disappointing runs this season. All those runs were on good or fast ground, it appeared that he was much happier back on easy ground on Saturday. All his best runs have been on soft or good to soft ground, and he is a horse worth keeping in mind for the autumn now. He has won big handicaps at York and Ripon, and he has gone close in big handicaps at Doncaster and also at York, all on easy ground, all over 6f. While he kept on well enough on Saturday over seven, it is probable that six is his optimum trip. And he appears to go particularly well on easy ground at York over 6f. He has won two of his six races under those conditions, and he has finished second in two more. The handicapper dropped him by 1lb for this run, which was a nice bonus, and he is an interestingly-handicapped horse now on a mark of 94, 9lb lower than the mark on which he started off this season.

York, 15^th June 2019