Dutch Decoy 

Dutch Decoy came from a fair way back and kept on well to take second place behind Maysong in the one-mile handicap at Sandown on Saturday. Dropped in early from his outside draw by Oliver Stammers, he was last of the 12 runner as they left the back straight, but he travelled well into the home straight and he made ground toward the leaders on the run to the two-furlong marker. Moved towards the outside and asked for his effort, he picked up well, but Maysong got a nice run through on the inside, and Dutch Decoy just couldn’t get to him. He did stay on well enough though, widest of all, to snatch second place, just a half a length behind the winner.

Charlie Johnston’s horse is six now, but his last two runs have been up there with the best of his life, and he will be of interest wherever he goes now. The handicapper raised him by just 2lb for this run, which takes him up to a mark of 90, but he ran well off that mark at Ripon last August, and there could be a good handicap in him now off that mark. Interestingly, he could drop in grade now into a 0-90 handicap. He holds an entry in one such handicap at Redcar on Friday, and he will be of interest if he takes up that entry. He is at his best over a mile on good or fast ground, ideally off a strong pace.
Sandown, 17^th June 2023