12th-Oct-2024

Strike Red won the Coral Sprint Trophy two years ago, and it is probable that trainer Richard Fahey has had the race in mind for him this year for a little while.

He has only won once since this day two years ago, we had him on side when he won the Scurry Handicap on Irish Derby day last year, but he has run some good races in good handicaps in the meantime. He wasn’t beaten far in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood in August, and he was only beaten by the progressive Elmonjed in a heritage handicap at York’s Ebor meeting. And he wasn’t beaten far in the Bold Lad Handicap at The Curragh on Irish Champions’ Weekend, nor in the Ayr Gold Cup last time.

He raced on the far side too in the Ayr Gold Cup, in a race that developed middle to near side. He was the only horse who emerged from a single-figure draw and finished in the first 13.

He has been dropping down the handicap too since the start of the season. He is down to a mark of 93 now, which is 2lb lower than the mark off which he won the Scurry, and it is just 1lb higher than the mark off which he won this race two years ago. That gives him a big chance. As does the return to York. He goes well at York and he goes well on easy ground, and I like his draw in stall nine. There is plenty of pace drawn in the middle, and yet, you probably ideally want to be low on the straight track at York. If they come over towards the near side, even better, because it means that he can race in the middle.

STRIKE RED WON (ADV 8/1, SP 6/1)