Aclaim
Aclaim put up a nice performance to win the 1m handicap at Ascot last Friday. Held up out the back of the nine-strong field off what was not an especially strong pace, he made nice progress for Jamie Spencer in the home straight to move in behind the leaders, and he finished off his race strongly, hitting the front deep inside the final furlong to get home by three parts of a length from Early Morning, with another three parts of a length back to Very Talented in third. Indeed, the first five home were all separated by three parts of a length.
Martyn Meade's horse did well to win here. The early pace favoured the prominent racers, as evidenced by the fact that the second and third both raced handily. Aclaim came from last off that sedate pace. And despite the sedate pace, the winning time was good, the fastest comparative time of the day and just 0.14secs/furlong slower than Racing Post par.
This was Aclaim's first attempt at 1m, he was stepping up by 2f in trip, and he saw it out well, probably putting up a career-best, so that opens up lots of options. The handicapper raised him by 5lb to a mark of 102, but he was deserving of that type of hike. He will be of interest in a high-class handicap off that mark, but he also holds an entry in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Stakes at Newbury on Friday over 7f, and he would be of interest if he took his chance in that, despite the fact that he would probably have a little bit to find on official ratings on the top-rated horses.
2nd September 2016
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