Jawwaal

Jawwaal out-ran big odds in finishing fourth in the five-and-a-half-furlong handicap at York on Wednesday. Drawn one off the stands rail in stall 21, at a meeting at which the low-drawn horses appeared to have an edge on the sprint track, he was settled towards the rear of the field early on by Jamie Spencer and towards the near side. He travelled really well to the two-furlong marker, and he was still on the bridle on the run to the furlong marker as most of his rivals came under a ride. He picked up well too, he probably moved into second place about 150 yards out before his run flattened out a little.

It was still a fine performance though, to finish fourth from the rear and from his high draw in a race in which the other eight runners who, with him, filled the first nine places were drawn 13 or lower. It was up there with the best performances of his career, and probably not far behind the performance that he put up in winning a five-furlong handicap at Doncaster in early July off a 5lb lower mark. He goes well at York, but he also goes really well at Doncaster, his record there reads 321011, and he will be of particular interest if and when he goes back there, ideally back over five furlongs. He has won over seven furlongs, but his two wins over that distance were back in 2018, and he is probably better over the minimum trip now than he is over six or seven furlongs, or even five and a half.
York, 18^th August 2021