Michael Easterby trained Hoof It withdrawn from the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup
The four-year-old Hoof It, trained by Michael Easterby, could only manage being part of the five-day declaration for the William Hill Ayr Gold Cup as on Saturday he failed to deliver as per expectations.
Just this month, he won the Group 1 Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock.
Not being the lead of the pack or the one following in the end, he was kept in the middle of the lot by his jockey, Graham Gibbons, holding the pace he had developed.
Racing through the first furlong did prove to be a challenge and then he got into chasing the leading pair, Dream Ahead and Bated Breath, when he was forced left, inside in the final furlong.
Hoof It kept on with that determined pace even when it meant finishing third in line.
The leading pair was already a part of the lot running upfront since the beginning. Hence, they mostly had to struggle with one another after they had cleared out the rest of the pack.
Dream Ahead was already leading over 2 furlongs before Bated Breath could come at par with him. The two champs ended up bumping with the winner, edged right, and the runner-up while closing in was edged left.
It was as if these three were ‘filtered out’ from the lot soon after crossing the mid division and then it was mostly a competition between the three without any serious pressure from the rest of the horses.
The Michael Easterby trained Hoof It lost by a very close margin from the leading pair.
Besides the Glorious Goodwood, Hoof It has been a part of two Group 1 contests, the Nunthrope Stakes and Betfred Sprint Cup.
Not being able to participate anymore is a different story but he still holds the credit of being among the thirty four suggested for the Ayr Gold Cup.
Hoof It’s withdrawal made room for Pepper Lane to be selected as the new 10/1 favourite.
The list also includes some 2009 winners, Jimmy Styles, Doncaster Rover, Six of Hearts, Tiddliwinks, Dafeef and New Planet.
Hoof It, no doubt, is capable of taking on a challenge and his connections will decide something for him that will turn out to be worthwhile for him in the future as soon as they can.
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