Raymond Tusk

Raymond Tusk ran a big race to finish second in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap at Ascot on Friday. Drawn in stall one on the inside, which is not an advantage over 12 furlongs at Ascot, he was held up in rear early on in a race in which the pace held up well. The winner, Quickthorn, was up handy on the outside from early, while the third horse Zabeel Champion led until the furlong marker. Also, the other four horses who, with him, filled the first five places were all drawn in double-figure stalls. Raymond Tusk was a little keen at the rear of the field early on, and he made up ground along the inside, probably on the worst of the ground, as they rounded the home turn. He stayed on well too in the home straight, towards the far side. He made ground from the two-furlong marker, running on strongly all the way to the line to get up and take second place, just a length and a half behind the winner Quickthorn.

Raymond Tusk did well for Richard Hannon. He won a Group 2 race in Italy as a three-year-old, and he won a two-mile conditions race at Newcastle, and he finished fourth in an Ebor and second in a Sagaro Stakes. This was his fourth run for Alan King this season, and he has progressed for each run. It may be that connections have a hurdling career in mind for him, but it may be that they have the Ebor in mind instead or as well. He should improve for a step back up to a mile and six furlongs, and he has run well on the two occasions on which he has run at York.
Ascot, 18^th June 2021