Washington Heights stands tall in Achilles Stakes

Washington Heights returned to winning ways when making nearly all the running in the Betway Achilles Stakes at Carlisle.

A classy performer at his best, he was last successful at York in Listed company in July and had struggled in higher grades since, albeit twice at Group One level.

Back down to Listed class in a race rerouted from Haydock, Tom Eaves’ mount flew the stalls and took the field along with Luna A Inbhir Nis, but when that one dropped away it was Kevin Ryan’s speedster (11-2) who was left alone in front.

Ten Pounds, who was slightly slowly away, made eyecatching late headway for a half-length second, but the likes of Celandine, Starlust and Rogue Lightning never looked like getting involved.

Eaves said: “Initially I was gutted when the race was called off, so wherever they were going to put it I was delighted. But he definitely seems to like it here and he has come on for his first run of the season.

“He is a bit lazy for a sprinter. Not in a bad way but in that he sort of switches off and he would happily just bob around. But when you wake him up and let him know where the race is he is as honest as the day is long.

“It is great to have it here and it is great to have him back in winning ways. He has a great season ahead now. He is not in at Royal Ascot but his season will be pretty much mapped out now.”

Ryan was at Beverley, where he said: “He’s a cracking horse and has been a great servant. When it was moved to Carlisle I thought ‘this will really suit him’ and it worked out well.”