Ngong Hills
Ngong Hills ran a strange race in the three-mile handicap chase at Haydock on Saturday. He travelled and jumped really well through the early stages, seemed to get a little outpaced when they picked it up at the top of the back straight first time, was soon back on an even keel half way down the back straight, but then lost ground rapidly on the leaders at the end of the back straight.
It looked like he was in an impossible position at the top of the home straight, but he stayed on well past beaten horses to take second place on the line. He never had a chance with the winner, Shrewd Investor, who had gone clear over the last, but there was a lot to like about the way in which he kept on. This was his first race since early December - he was kept away from the deep winter ground - so it reasonable to assume that he will come on for the run. His rating of 98 looks more than fair, and he should be well worth watching in a staying handicap chase on good ground next time.
21th March, 2009
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