Ghathanfar

Ghathanfar did well to finish fourth behind Gale Force Maya in the Sky Bet Dash at York last Saturday from his high draw. Prominent from early on the near side, he probably just about led overall as they passed the three-furlong marker, but the big players arrived on the far side, Gale Force Maya and Lucky Man. He dropped back to fourth or fifth as they raced to the furlong marker, but he stayed on well through the final 200 yards to take third place in front of Hyperfocus, who also raced towards the near side, just a half a length behind the winner.

Tracy Waggott’s horse is not obviously unexposed, he is six and this was his 48th run, but his last four runs have been up there with the best of his career. Also, this was his second run in cheekpieces, he won at York in July in first-time cheekpieces, his record in any type of headgear now reads 213, and there could be more to come from him now. It was a day on which it looked like you wanted to be drawn low, Gale Force Maya emerged from stall six, and the Jump Jockeys’ Nunthorpe that went before was dominated by the low numbers. The first six home were drawn, respectively, six, nine, one, seven, eight and three of 20, and they were returned at odds of 25/1, 16/1, 28/1, 9/1, 40/1 and 22/1. Ghathanfar holds an entry in the Shergar Cup Dash at Ascot on Saturday, and he will be of interest if he lines up in that, especially if he wears his cheekpieces. Also, his record at York now reads 36213, so he will be of interest when he goes back to the Knavesmire.
York, 23^rd July 2022