Cliffs Of Capri

It might be worthwhile giving Cliffs Of Capri another chance, after he only finished 13th in the Clipper Logistics Handicap at York on Thursday.  Squeezed along a little by Dougie Costello early on in order that he could adopt a decent position just behind the pace, he was just short of room on the run into the turn at the end of the back straight, he had to concede a good position, and the incident seemed to light him up a little. He was keen on the run around the home turn, and he was three wide and back in mid-division, none of which was ideal.  He came under a ride early in the home straight and he got out-paced when they quickened, but he kept on well deep inside the final furlong to finish within four and a half lengths of the winner.

It was a race in which it was difficult to make ground from the rear, a theme which generally ran through the week at York.  The winner Cruyff Turn made almost all the running, while the second and third, Magical Morning and Astro King, were always prominent.  Also, this was Cliffs Of Capri’s first run at York.  His form on Ascot’s straight track is better than it is anywhere else.  His record there reads 151342404, and some of the best runs of his career have been there, including when he finished second to Blue Mist in the International Stakes last year, and when he finished fourth in the same race this year.  He is probably better over seven furlongs at Ascot than he is over a mile, but he will be of interest now the next time he runs there, over either distance.
York, 19^th August 2021