Take Cover

1st-Aug-2014

I have Take Cover in mind for the Nunthorpe Stakes, but I can’t let him run here at 8/1.

David Griffiths’ horse showed remarkable speed in a listed race at York three weeks ago. He led or disputed the lead all the way, and when it looked like G Force might catch him, he found more and pulled away again.

He is seven years old now, but he is relatively lightly-raced. He didn’t start racing until he was four and he only ran three times that season, and he is only getting going now as a high-class sprinter.

It is a little worrying that the last two winners of that York race – Jwala and Hamish McGonagall – disappointed in today’s race before bouncing back to run really well (or win) the Nunthorpe, but Masamah won today’s race after winning the York race, so there is a precedent there.

York and Goodwood share a characteristic, in that their five-furlong track is speed-favouring, even though one is downhill and undulating while the other is flat, and Take Cover was only beaten a nose in the Stewards’ Sprint Stakes at this meeting last year over six furlongs. He should run well today.

TAKE COVER WON (ADV 8/1, SP 6/1)

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