".... if this horse were mine I'd aim him at a big Group race...."

Wednesday, 10th June 2026

“…. if this horse were mine I’d aim him at a big Group race….”

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In ATC today….

One horse ran an absolute belter at Epsom on Saturday….

…. cutting out strong early fractions and sticking on strong – despite not having conditions to suit….

…. and – if he were mine – I’d be taking aim at a big Group race with him….

Oh…. and another horse out of the same race goes on to my Watch List….

Read on….

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After the first race at Epsom on Friday Oisin Murphy….

…. who’d just won on Naana’s Shadow….

…. walked into the weighing room and announced to his colleagues that the track was riding ‘soft’ rather than in line with the official description of ‘good’….

Race times say he was a little off with his assessment….

Racing Post times suggest the going was ‘good’ at that point – though the official description of the ground did change to ‘good to soft’ shortly afterwards….

…. whilst Timeform had the ground as good to soft for all the races run on Day 1….

The underfoot conditions were definitely worse on Day 2….

…. with Racing Post race times suggesting the ground was riding ‘good to soft’….

…. and the Timeform calculations having it down as outright ‘soft’ from 3.15pm onwards – the period during which most of the handicaps were contested….

Taking all the detail together and squaring that with my own impressions, I’m inclined to take the Timeform assessments over those of the Racing Post….

It was certainly outright ‘soft’ ground by the time they went to post for the finale – the JRA Tokyo Trophy….

…. and that belief leads me to stick my neck out and make what is probably a bold and contentious statement….

If Partisan Hero were my horse I’d be giving some serious thought to aiming him at a big Group race over 5f or 6f on a bit of decent ground….

…. because he ran an absolute belter on Saturday….

…. a real standout effort that suggests he can do plenty better yet – potentially at a higher level than handicaps – if or when he gets conditions in his favour….

What I’m saying might seem outlandish to you – maybe even outrageous….

…. but bear with me….

The bare facts are these….

…. Partisan Hero finished 3/15 and beaten 2.5 lengths in a race that was run in a terrific time….

…. and there are aspects to the performance that not only justify marking it up significantly….

…. but which also suggest he’s capable of leaving previous form behind – much of that form over longer trips – if or when things fall right….

Let me start by making the point that David Loughnane’s 6yo would not have been suited by the soft surface on Saturday….

…. pretty much everything he’s achieved out on the track has been achieved on genuine decent ground – ‘good’ ground….

Yes, the formbook says it was ‘good to soft’ last year when he won the Debenhams at the Derby meeting….

…. but race times suggest the ground was riding quicker than that….

…. and two points that are indisputable are these….

…. one – he’d done nothing of any note whatsoever on soft ground previously….

…. two – there are occasions when he’s been pulled out of races on account of soft ground….

So, given that he wouldn’t have particularly enjoyed the surface at Epsom on Saturday, what he did was pretty impressive in my book….

Not only did he cut out the rapid early fractions that helped contribute to such a fast overall time in unfavorable conditions….

…. but he also stuck on to the line – only giving best very late on to two horses that had been given kinder rides off the red-hot pace….

Partisan Hero lost absolutely nothing in defeat – nothing whatsoever – and I reckon he’s a much better horse for being switched to sprint trips this year….

Five goes at 5f and 6f have produced form figures that read 3/13; 8/18; 2/18; 1/16; & 3/15….

…. I reckon he can do better again – with conditions to suit….

…. and I certainly wouldn’t be frightened of taking on the big boys for black type – not with the form he’s in at the moment – particularly in a big field….

We’ve seen in the past – many times – that it’s easier for handicappers to make a competitive transition to Group level than it is for horses campaigning at longer trips….

…. and I reckon Partisan Hero – given the fettle he’s in right now – is a handicapper with the talent and speed to bridge the class divide and make his presence felt….

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Strike Red was fourth in that same race….

…. and he’s going onto the Watch List….

He might be an 8yo now, but he’s still got some fire in the old belly….

…. he’s looking very nicely handicapped on a mark of 87 – down a pound for Saturday….

…. and you’d think the Fahey operation can find some money for him to win at some point….

It was only last summer he found just one well-handicapped horse too good in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood off 94….

…. and there are other bits of form dotted about his record that suggest his time might not be too far away….

Slower ground helps him and it might be a case of waiting for the right conditions….

…. hopefully at York – where he’s got some good numbers in the book produced off official ratings in the 90s….

…. but be aware that Richard Fahey hasn’t been afraid to send him to Ireland in the past – in search of slower summer conditions….

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That’s all for today….

Back tomorrow….

Meantime – contact me at – nick.pullen@spapublishinggroup.co.uk

Stay tuned….

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