Lucander

Lucander stayed on well to take third place in the 12-furlong handicap at Epsom on Derby day. Restrained early on by Pat Cosgrave, he was last of the eight runners after they had gone 100 yards, and he was still last as they turned for home and passed the three-furlong marker. Angled towards the outside at that point by his rider, he picked up well and made good progress down the stands side. He moved into a share of fourth place by the time they got to the two-furlong pole, and he continued to close all the way to the line. In the end, he was beaten by two lengths by the winner Sheer Rocks, who raced handily from early, and he failed by just a head to take second place from Caius Chorister, who led from early.

This was another middle-distance handicap at Epsom in which it was difficult to make ground from the rear. The early pace was not strong, as evidenced by the winner’s finishing speed of 112.41%. Lucander’s finishing speed was 113.86%, he was faster through the final three furlongs than all his rivals. George Baker’s horse is not obviously unexposed, but he has been in good form since his return from Bahrain this season, and this run was up there with the best of his career. He should be able to do better now with a stronger pace. He should get a stronger pace if and when he drops back to 10 furlongs, but this was just his fifth run over a distance in excess of 10 and a half furlongs, and he saw out the 12 furlongs well. He will be of interest now over a mile and a half when a strong pace is likely, and we know that he goes particularly well at York.
Epsom, 3^rd June 2023