He was probably to far off them. The winner got first run and squire ran on into second. The jockey gave him an easy ride after that. A decent run from him considering he was to far off them and had to go wide around the bend.
Squire was a bit one paced in keeping on again today having been further back than he is usually ridden. Looks to me like he wants a stiffer finish than places like Haydock. I still can't make up my mind trip wise whether he'd be worth a crack up in trip so would love to hear Stick and Dons thoughts on whether they'd give him a crack at that. What's his rough route to Newmarket at the end of the season?
All part of the stringent work in becoming the highly prestigious Not606 10 to Follow Champion mate. Dickie and Nicholls have nothing on me <lightsupcigar>
Squire did fine, as has already been mentioned he was left off the pace more than usual, but the second came from further back. I think it was a case of it being a in a decent race with one or two horses who are where he was this time last year. There are a couple who will end up 10lb higher in 3 months time and the second horse Higher Power could end up significantly more as would have won today had he not fallen asleep in the stalls and missed the break. Squire has already shown his form where as a couple of these are yet to, what he did show however is that he retains his ability and will pick up a race soon perhaps back over a stiff mile in a race in which there are no lurkers such as today. This was a race of depth and in my view the form will work out well 1st Rock Song benefitted from fitness and ridden well, may have a bit more to come even though should be exposed. 2nd Higher Power, Guaranteed winner, travelled beautifully quickend and just had too much to do due to missing break. 3rd Muffahiz will win again from current mark, ran on at finish, may even be worth upping to 12f 4th Squire Enough scope on current mark to find a race but not much to spare now, vulnerable to unexposed horses, very genuine horse. 6th Peterhouse travelled very well but ran out of toe, will find a race. 8th Queens Novel Travelled well but not ready today, will win a decent enough race very soon. Higher Power and Queens novel for the notebook, the others in the right race, form of this race given merit.
Lee was dissapointed with the ride he gave Squire. He thought he got him to the fore too soon and his recommendation was drop him to a mile. I have to say I disagree. He wants to be ridden three out with the view of being in the lead two out and saying come past me if you can. He will most likely go back to Newmarket in just under three weeks from now for a 0-90 handicap. The track is ideal for him and we should be able to get Havlin who knows him best, he was claimed to ride for his boss today. I would like to see him get to Newmarket for the Cambridgeshire at the end of the season off a mark in the mid 80's and pray we get in the big race this time. Lost a packet with him not getting third today but I really cannot be anything but proud of him. Genuine horse and a pleasure to be a part of his team. Funny little sub-plot here. If he goes to Newmarket for that race I will not be able to go as I am getting married that day!
I would very much agree with you on the way Squire needs riding Stick, I would also agree with Graham Lee however on the mile, and a stiff mile like Newmarket on a galloping track ridden 3 furlongs out to make it feel like a 9 furlong race would be ideal as you can really use the tactics that suit the horse because you know that even going 3 furlongs out he is not going to stop over a mile, he can break, he can travel and his top speed seems to last out very well but not differ too much from his travelling speed, making those tactics perfect. I think it was very good of Lee to be straight forward and say he was unhappy with the ride (even if he felt for different reasons we did) as I totally respect that and makes you much more understanding. This would make the Cambridgshire an ideal race with regard distance, although if being honest I could not see him winning a race like that, I love Squire because he is everything you want from a horse in that he is brave and willing to the last stride, I sadly think that he would lack the class to take a Cambridgeshire and something with a change of gear and touch of class is always likely prevail in such a race. If you can get Pat Cosgrave on again though it might just make the difference.
Good luck with your forthcoming nuptials stick, but don't worry I'll go to Newmarket for you. I could do with the practice of being an owner and all it entails, apart from paying the bills lol.
Whatever race he is in be needs to be layed up just off the pace as he doesn't have a change of gears but grinds on so well and always sticks his neck out and is hard to pass. His chance was gone at the break for me. Attwater had a poor week in spite of fancying all his so hopefully some improvment. I was thinking we need to step him up in trip. He travels so strongly I would like to see if he could stay 1m 4f on a flatish track. He could sit just off the pace or even make it and see if anything can pick him up. Over 1 mile I feel we might set it up for something coming off the pace with a change of gears.
Don' I think the 12f would be a good experiment with nothing to lose, I only tend think that a stiff forced mile suits as that is the distance he has prevailed at previously. I think you could just as likely find a horse with a better change of gear over 12f as you could the mile, but over the mile he has a chance to run it out of them by getting to the front early and making it a test and seeing if they can get past. It would be quite surprising if he could win at 8f and at 12f as I tend think that most horses at best have a variation of 2f in which they are able to perform to their best (there are of course exceptions), a horse that wins over a mile and then12f would usually need a slower pace and a measure of holding up to get the 12f which again would not suit him tactically due to the lack of gears. Certainly worth a try however as we wont know until it's tried and if the worst outcome is he gets dropped a pound or two it would not be a wasted experiment. I also think that is one of Squires problems in that he is so willing that he will find it hard to get a few pounds in his favour. Cant wait for him to appear again wherever he runs.
Totally agree re the change to a mile. I'm sure he'd be capable of winning a crap race at a mile but that would blow his mark. For me, he needs a race with no pace so he can nick the lead, 10f, a stiff finish and a jockey that knows him or will ride to instructions as i intimated to Stick on Saturday night. He's a bloody good horse for the investment and you can always dream. Do i think he'll win the Cambridgeshire? Of course not. Does that matter? Not a jot. Graham Lee didn't know the horse and blocksed it up from the start. He's also a jockey that doesn't ride for a place which almost certainly cost him third. Personally, i'd rather a good claimer ride him next time he's there to win. You'd get the benefit of a few lbs and a young claimer is usually more attentive to instructions and i think that would play to his strengths. BUT it has to be a very good claimer who will eventually turn pro. No point messing about with someone who's crap because you'll probably blow the advantage.
