One thing that has Surprised me with a capital âSâ this morn (it so surprised me in fact that Iâve had to spend the last half an hour led down in the sick bay) is that following his run last Saturday one of my old faves, Masamah, was dropped 4 lbs by the old boy handicapper to a new perch of 100, I say, 100. Iâm not complaining about this decrease in the slightest, for obvious reasons, but I most deffo am amazed by it as I thought he ran a corker at Haydock Park 6 days ago over a trip that stretches his stamina to the absolute limit. To review his last performance he was beaten a short head by Louis The Pious (98 at the time), but beat Dubawi Sound by 1.5 lengths (102) and Annunciation by 3.75 lengths (98) and the assessor has obviously gone through the winner, rather than the placed beasts, to get Masamahâs new mark. Going further into the form my old fave was well ahead at the furlong marker but tied up in the final 100 or so yards, whilst drifting off the rail, as heâs clearly better (as his form will testify) at 5 furlongs and under an inspired drive from âKingâ Kieren Louis The Pious got up on the line. It really was a candidate for âride of the termâ and led me to exclaim, âThat was brilliant âKingâ Keiren. You are to race riding what Mr Henderson is to race trainingâ. Masamah returns to his best distance of 5 furlongs over the county line at Ascot tomorrow in the card commencer (1.45). This will be his first run in a handicap for over 2 years a fact that doesnât surprise me given his generous new perch (even more appealing when you consider that 12 months ago he was as high as 113). Furthermore, the highly capable Darren Egan takes off another 3 pounds, Masamah obviously likes Ascot as he is a course and distance winner there and ground conditions hold no fears as he is a 4 time winner when the underfoot conditons read âgood to firmâ. Paddy Power are the only firm currently betting on the race, at the moment, and they currently go 14/1 re Masamah at Ascot of the morrow. Flex those fingers, troops, because I think the old boy most deffo worthy of an each-way tickle down to 100 and back in handicap grade. Anyone else like Masamah tomorrow??? Or is there something better in this ultra competitive and tricky 5 furlong handicap???
I'll be sticking with Miss Lahar 22/1 personally, i've backed it the last god knows how many times and not abandoning it now
You could well be right Barney - I've looked at this for over an hour now and still can't decide. I'm drawn to Pabusar, a very good ew chance at 25-1, may have to do them both!
He's certainly had much better horses than these behind him over 5f on fast going so the current 16/1 freely available does look on the generous side.
Well I say old boy, i say what a cracking shout you called there. Hope you are having a tipple of something bubbly after your success. Well done SBC .
It’s rare that a plan comes together but it certainly did in Masamah’s case. Let’s hope the handicapper makes similar ‘mistakes’, in the future, and down grades other horses after highly creditable runs! The key question now though must be what happens next with Masamah?!? He’ll probably get a revised perch in the 105-107 region and although, as Stick says, the Steward’s Cup must be an option (quotes ranging from 12/1 to 20/1) personally I’d like to see him go Group 2 King George Stakes at Goodwood and then Group 1 Nunthorpe at York – a route that he has followed in each of the past 2 terms. This is because in essence he’s a pure speedball and I think 6 furlongs stretches Masamah’s stamina just a tad too much. His form in the former race is an excellent -13 but in the York heat a much less inspiring -88. Following the confidence boosting win on Saturday if presented with good to firm ground though and if he bursts from the stalls, akin to 48 hours ago, then I think Masamah, right now, is going to be very difficult to peg back at any level. Hopefully, he will continue to be underestimated and big prices will available should the old boy stand his ground in either Pattern contest.
