DRAGON LEADER 2.45 Redcar at 4/6

 William Hill Two Year Old Trophy (Listed) 5f217y

Pedigree

£45,000 Y; second foal; dam GB/US 5.7f-1m winner (inc 2yo; RPR 92), closely related to 5f winner Exclusively out of 6f 2yo Listed winning granddaughter of US 8.5f 2yo Grade 2 winner

The Racing Horse Composite

Trainer Form: 4-18 for 22%         (10)
National average: 14%              (10)
Course Strike Rate: NA             (10)
RPR: 120                           (10)
Optimum Ground: Good               (10)       
Optimum Distance: 6f               (10)
Jockey: Richard Kingscote          (10)
National Average: 13%              (10)
Course Strike Rate: 22%            (10)
Trainer & Jockey Combo: 16%        (10)  
Total:                            (100)

 Group company horse - Clive Cox

Dragon Leader won his first 3 starts before finding only one too strong in 17-runner valuable £300,000 sales race Class 2 at Doncaster over 6½f on good to soft ground 23 days, which were not his optimum conditions. The 2yo El Kabeir colt is now going to be hard beat on the return to a bare 6f with firmer ground to suit.

After winning his third race in a row trainer Clive Cox told us: "That's three from three for Dragon Leader so it's no surprise but to do it quite as comfortably as he did was great. Ryan Moore is top drawer but a lot of thanks goes to John Fahy who worked very hard on this horse in the spring. We've got a lot to consider. His medium value qualifies him well for a few races, so there's some good prize-money angles to think about. We'll be thinking properly about Group company as well."

Timeform View

DRAGON LEADER may have lost his unbeaten record at Doncaster last time, but the return to a bare 6f and firmer ground can see him resume winning ways. He can land a second valuable event having won readily at York's Ebor meeting, with Flaccianello the main danger after her success at Ayr 15 days ago. Kylian completes the shortlist as he drops back in grade.

Value

The 4/6 looks a fair price without being massive value. We had hoped to nick a bit of 4/5 with a bookmaker but that was probably a little too optimistic so we are nibbling on the Exchange at between 1.76 and 1.83 and that is surely perceived value.

PACAFI Results 2023

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