Value Bet tip Sinjaari (11/1) rattled home to overhaul Certain Lad and provide trainer William Haggas with a third winner of the John Smith's Cup at York.
The 66/1 runner-up looked home and hosed entering the final furlong having booted clear but Stevie Donohoe was weaving his way through aboard the winner, who was selected at 14/1 by Matt Brocklebank in his unmissable Friday column, and was well on top at the line. The winning distance was a length.
Fifth Position (6/1) and Dark Jedi (18/1) were third and fourth but the front two had this between them throughout the closing stages.
Haggas said from his Newmarket base: “I’m thrilled to bits he’s come back to himself as he lost his way last spring having looked a bit useful. What he loved today was the fast pace and I’m sure he appreciated the drop of rain.
“I’m not sure what happened last season. I gave the jockey the wrong instructions at Royal Ascot and after that he wasn’t the same.
“We had him gelded but not because he was naughty in any way, he’s a lovely horse. I wasn’t sure he was coming to himself in time, but just in the last two weeks I thought we were getting him back.
“I wouldn’t know where we’d go with him. I won’t go back over a mile and a half, though – what he wants is a fast pace over 10 furlongs. I’m a bit taken aback by that to be honest to be thinking of what next. It’s just great to win a race to win with him – it’s a great race, a race we try to find one for every year.”
Donohoe said: “He loved the ground and saw his race out really well.
“It’s a John Smith’s Cup and it was a tricky enough, but once he got a bit of room up the straight he put it to bed. We were tapped for toe early, but then he came alight. He’s a very kind horse and has a really good attitude. With lockdown we’re all taking a hit and it’s good to get a nice winner.”
