Dr Livingstone

Dr Livingstone ran a cracker in the Class 2 10-furlong handicap at Newbury on Saturday, belying odds of 25/1 to finish second to Rainbow Peak. Free through the early stages, as is his wont, he took the field along at a fair pace, yet he was still in front passing the furlong pole. He couldn't match the finishing surge of Rainbow Peak through the final furlong and, in fairness, it always looked as if Michael Jarvis's horse was travelling better, but he kept on really well all the way to the line to hold on to second place.

This was a race that was run at a fast pace - as dictated by Dr Livingstone - and so suited the hold-up horses. Three of the first four home, Rainbow Peak, Salden Licht and Namibian Orator, occupied three of the last four places turning for home. The one horse who both raced and finished prominently was Dr Livingstone, and the two horses who sat behind him in the lead early on, William Blake and Spell Caster, finished well down the field. Furthermore, the first four finished well clear of the remainder. Dr Livingstone is still fairly unexposed. He had a nice break during the summer, and this was just his fourth run of the season. If he can learn to settle just a little better, he could step up a fair bit even on this performance, which was probably a career-best. He handles easy ground well, and he might be worth trying at nine furlongs now before the end of the season.

24th October 2009

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