Sectional times for last night show CH ran the last 3F in 35.01s – pretty good and much too quick for the opposition he faced.
Southwell have a 0-95 1M 4F handicap run on New Years Day. This year it was won by, coincidentally, the 9-y-old Enemy. He ran the final 3F in 34.8s.
And for reasons I can’t remember (or never knew), Southwell staged the Winter Derby last year, run over 1M 3F – the race is run today at Lingfield. At Southwell, the winner, Royal Champion and the runner-up, Military Academy, both ran the final 3F in 34.7s.
I’m reminded of a remark made to me more than 40 years ago, by my first trainer, Mr David Elsworth – “They all look good running past trees Alan”. And the horses that were expected to provide the main opposition to CH last night, might have made trees look quick. The runner-up appeared in the paddock to be a malnourished pony and the Mullins entry showed all the athletic ability of a one paced giraffe.
It was great fun to watch and enjoy, but let’s not get carried away – Group 1 races are out of reach.