Lease Lend

Lease Lend put up an impressive performance to win a two-mile handicap chase at Wetherby on Saturday. Held up out the back off a fairly hot pace set by Lord Larsson, Tim Easterby’s gelding was travelling well for Richie McGrath and the pair made good progress to get closer to the leaders down the back straight. Lord Larsson had most of the field off the bridle coming out of the back straight and it was only Lease Lend who picked up to challenge him after the fourth last. You got the feeling that McGrath was just holding on to Lease Lend from there, not wanting to hit the front too soon, but it still looked as though he had Lord Larsson's measure on the run to the last, so that horse's departure probably didn't affect the result materially.

This was a pleasing performance from Lease Lend after a disappointing run on his seasonal debut, also at Wetherby. He is a horse who is at his best over two and a half miles, so the fast pace and soft ground probably helped him here over the two miles. The form looks decent, it was 22 lengths back to the well-backed favourite Enfant Du Lune and the time of the race was good, the fastest comparative time on the day. He should be better back over further now and he looks capable of winning again, even after a 7lb hike for this win.

15th January 2011

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