Mudallel looking very pleased with himself the day after his second career win.
Mudallel showed a liking for Kempton’s polytrack surface when winning at the Sunbury venue two weeks ago. He headed back there last night to contest another one mile handicap and he was made favourite to make light of the seven pound rise he was given for that debut success.
James Doyle dropped him in again during the early exchanges and the son of Invincible Spirit travelled kindly for him. Sterling Silver ensured the pace was a good one in front and Mudallel continued to gallop smoothly as the field entered the straight. Mudallel briefly had nowhere to go as the field swept past the two furlong pole and he momentarily disappeared from the television screens as the leaders quickened for home. He soon reappeared however once he found racing room on the outside and he picked up Ventura Blues to win a shade cosily at the line by half a length.
Our gelding is very much one to keep on the right side of and the handicapper cannot go overboard given the relatively narrow margin of victory. One would expect a rise of around four pounds which would take him up to a mark of 82. This may not be enough to get him into the valuable Mile Final back at Kempton a week on Saturday but if he crept into the race he would look very interesting in it. He is starting to fulfil the potential he showed last season and a recent gelding operation seems to have been the making of him. He now relaxes in his races and that is allowing him to do his best work at the end of a race.
Congratulations to Mudallel’s owner Mr Abdullah Al Naboodah, we hope that your horse can continue his recent progression when we next see him on the racecourse. He looks like a fine individual and his recent wins suggest there is more to come from him. Well done to everyone at La Grange, this was our 34th winner of the season and hopefully we can keep pushing and move towards the half-century mark.