Three-way photo!
DON’T LOOK DOWN, a 25/1 outsider, ran an absolute cracker yesterday at Wolverhampton to be third, beaten a nose and a nose.
On paper, this was a tough ask for Don’t Look Down with two of his rivals rated 86 and 83 while other dangerous potential opponents included Harawi and Jaquar, who had previous experience and represented major connections. Add to that, a first-time out Godolphin Dubawi newcomer and one can see why Don’t Look Down was a 25/1 outsider.
The Solario Racing (Tring) owned 3yo was having only his second start, having been fourth at the same course over 1m 1 1/2 furlongs last month on his debut. Slowly away first time out, he was more street-wise this time around and taking advantage of a slow early pace, the son of Aussie Rules managed to be handy early on and was in the first three throughout.
Don’t Look Down
The pace was set by the eventual winner, 100/1 outsider, Charlie D, who had the plum draw in one. Don’t Look Down was always in contention but was off the bridle 7f from home. However, he stuck to his guns and was always the strongest threat to the winner until the 86-rated Legal History collared him on the line to deny the Solario horse second place.
This was an impressive performance from an inexperienced big horse who would prefer a more galloping track. He clearly likes the Tapeta surface at Wolverhampton but the track would not have been ideal. Also, if he’d been drawn against the rail, who knows? One suspects, the result might possibly have been different, particularly in the light of the fact that the winning jockey, Paddy Pilley, was awarded a four-day suspension for over-use of the whip on Charlie D.
It’s all “Ifs buts and maybes.”…
…but surely Don’t Look Down is a horse with a future?
Drawn in the “car park”, 10 of 10,
