Aasheq
It might pay to retain faith with Aasheq yet despite the fact that he could only finish fifth in the one-mile maiden at Navan on Sunday. Dermot Weld's colt has now been beaten twice this season, but he obviously caught a good one in Derby favourite US Army Ranger on his debut at The Curragh three weeks ago, and there were excuses at Navan on Sunday. Settled just behind the leaders through the early stages of the race, the Dubawi colt made some progress at the three-furlong pole on the outside, but he was trying to make his ground away from the favoured far rail, and that was just about impossible on the day. All eight winners on the day raced prominently and up against the far rail, and very few horses were able to make any progress out in the centre of the track. Aasheq weakened close home, and he finished only fifth, 26 lengths behind the winner, The Gurkha, but it is reasonable to assume that he is a lot better than the bare form of this run suggests.
You can end up in the poor house by continually making excuses for horses but, such was the depth of confidence that appeared to be behind Aasheq before he made his racecourse debut, it is reasonable to assume that he is a talented individual. He has to go and prove it now on the racecourse, but time may show that is run behind US Army Ranger was a top run, and it may be worth giving him another chance to prove his ability. He may be under-rated now on his next run after two defeats.
17th April 2016
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