Walhaan

Walhaan ran better than the bare form of the run suggests in the Clipper Logistics one-mile handicap. Weak in the market beforehand, he was slowly away from his wide draw, and he was dropped in behind runners. Third last of the 17 runners as they straightened up for home, he travelled well in behind horses to the three-furlong marker. Asked for his effort at the two-furlong pole by Ben Curtis, he didn’t pick up instantly, and the leaders had gone for home at that point, but he kept on well towards the near side, running on all the way to the line to finish eighth, just over four lengths behind the winner Montatham, with a nice break back to the ninth horse.

It was another good run by the Dark Angel gelding at a big price – he was a 100/1 shot when he ran a big race to finish second to River Nymph in a seven-furlong handicap at Ascot on King George day on his previous run. That was his third run for Ian Williams since he joined from Jean-Claude Rouget and, with just 10 runs on his CV, he still retains scope for further progression. He could do better back at Ascot, where he is proven and where his hold-up style of racing should be an advantage. Also, he holds an entry in the Cambridgeshire, which is interesting. A well-run nine-furlong big-field handicap could suit him well.

York, 20^th August 2020