The Verdict Extra: Saturday tip and one for your tracker
The Racing TV presenter likes the look of a contender chalked up at 33-1 for the Long Distance Cup on QIPCO British Champions Day in October plus reveals a couple of other horses to follow, including one who is entered at York on Saturday.
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I analysed six races from six different tracks in The Verdict this week and highlighted Trawlerman's performance at Salisbury where he returned as good as ever, despite being absent since March. His chance in the QIPCO Long Distance Cup has been enhanced a good deal and, given that he finished third in that race last year, the general 33-1 available looks to be an each-way play, albeit the race looks to be very strong this year.
A couple of other performances caught my eye last week and were of distinct interest from a Course Track Sectional point of view. Make sure you add each one to your Racing TV Tracker to be notified when they are next due to run.
Under The Twilight is one to follow
The Christophe Duchamp Grand Mont Handicap at Sandown on Friday was a race where the winner, Azano, got an uncontested lead and took the field along in even fractions.
He recorded a Finishing Speed Percentage (FSP) of 99.00 per cent which suggests that jockey Danny Tudhope got the fractions absolutely spot on out in front.
In the final furlong, he was on fumes and recorded the slowest furlong in the field. He ran that furlong in 13.62s, with the runner-up clocking 12.80s.
Despite such a slow finish, he clung on to win by a neck, but in behind him there was one performance that caught the eye as far as the Course Track numbers were concerned.
Under the Twilight finished fifth yet shaped with plenty of promise, and should be winning again soon. She was slowly, away which is something of a habit for her and, based upon the even nature of the pace, she was on the back foot from the start.
She was forced quite wide turning for home and lost ground, but the mid-race move that she made to try and get into contention was impressive.
She was fastest in the race through F4, F5 and F6, yet she just had too much to do. Below are her sectional times compared to the winner through those furlongs:
F4: Azano - 11.63s.
F4: Under The Twilight - 10.82s.
F5: Azano - 11.99s.
F5: Under the Twilight - 11.77s.
F6: Azano - 12.61s.
F6: Under the Twilight - 12.02s.
Under The Twilight then weakened in the final furlong with a sectional of 12.97s, compared to the winner who recorded 13.62s. These numbers tell us that Under The Twilight made a huge big-race move to get into contention, but that sustained three-furlong effort took its toll, and she could only get within just over three lengths of the winner.
If her challenge had been delayed slightly longer, she would have finished closer, but would not have won.
To say this was a hidden effort would be something of an understatement and, given that she is eligible to run in a lesser grade, she is a must for your Racing TV Tracker. She must if/when she drops into a 0-85 contest.
Side with Marbuzet at York on Saturday
Marbuzet bolted up at Musselburgh on Saturday - that was clear for anyone to see. However, a deeper look into what he achieved is revealed by the Course Track figures, and they show that he totally dominated this field without ever coming off the bridle. This followed on from a win at Carlisle nine days before.
He was held up over this two-mile trip, yet proved to be the fastest through each of the final six furlongs, and he did that without his jockey moving a muscle.
Rarely do you see a horse prove to be so dominant in a race. Horses can finish faster than their rivals, or make a mid-race move for a couple of furlongs, but to be faster through six consecutive furlongs is a rarity.
His final three furlongs of 39.89s took him nine and a half lengths clear of the runner-up, who recorded 41.63s over the same distance.
He won this race off a mark of 57 and will be hard to beat next time out. With this in mind, he is entered at York on Saturday and, under a penalty, he will be one that I will certainly be supporting.
