Precision Break

Precision Break ran a cracker to go down by just a head to Manyriverstocross in the Deltica Stakes at Goodwood on Tuesday. Settled well out the back in the early stages and still with a lot to do with just a half a mile to run, he picked up impressively out widest of all. He and the winner actually made similar progress from a quarter of a mile out, and the two duelled from there to the line. While both of them overhauled the leaders on the far side, Drill Sergeant and Quai D'Orsay, it was Manyriverstocross who just held Precision Break.
Paul Cole is now talking about the Ebor for Precision Break, and that is interesting. The Deltica Stakes has been a good pointer to the Ebor in recent times, with Mephisto and Sergeant Cecil both using the race as a stepping stone to Ebor glory in the last four renewals of the York showpiece. This was just Precision Break's second run of the season, and you can forgive him his first, when he was seventh in a heritage handicap at Newmarket in May, as Cole's horses weren't going so well at the time, and he lost a shoe in combat. He won his last two races on the all-weather at the end of last year, he has continued that progression now into this season, and it is likely that Cole has had the Ebor in mind for him since the start of the year. The handicapper has raised him 3lb for this performance, but because the Ebor is an early-closer, he will get to race off his old mark, so he will effectively be 3lb well-in. He will meet Manyriverstocross on 4lb better terms for a head beating, as his conqueror will have to carry a penalty, given that he won the race. More importantly, however, he is almost certain to progress again for his second run of the season, and he should be just about spot on for the Ebor. He will stay the distance, and he will be ridder out the back, a racing style that suits the Ebor well (all of the last five winners were held up). He needs a good few to come out of the Ebor in order to get into it, but if he does make the cut, he has to be on your shortlist.

30th July 2009

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