Jim Best, who won on him at Goodwood for his fourth victory under Rules, partners him again, and if he rides as good a race as he did on the West Sussex Downs then Dr Cool, with a 5lb penalty for that success, should go close.
Akehurst, son of Reg, one of Epsom?s top trainers before retiring and known as ?King of the Handicaps?, explains his doctor?s last run.
?He was nearly last but never far away from the leaders, stuck on the rails where I think an amateur pilot should be with his horse.
?There were six in a line in front of him and you would have thought a gap would come.
?It didn?t, and to Jim?s credit he pulled him out and galloped down the outside. The doctor enjoys running past horses and revelled in it, beating Duello by two-and-a-half lengths.
?When horses get their heads in front it is amazing the confidence it can give them and since then he has been doing better and better at home and needing no manipulative treatment.?
Dr Cool began his present campaign with an unlucky-looking close third to Fandango Dream at his home course, then travelled down the road to Windsor where Richard Quinn kicked him home in front to score by a length and a half from Arbenig.
The revelation continued when Paul Doe teamed-up with him at Epsom, and the pair of them came from well off the pace to win a 24-runner thriller by a length and a half from Scenic Lady.
Meanwhile, to more immediate matters. Akehurst has Alcayde in the two-mile handicap for National Hunt jockeys at Goodwood tomorrow. The six-year-old was fourth in a decent handicap at Kempton over two miles, which is Thursday?s trip, and won a couple of even longer races in the West Country at Bath in May and June.
The chestnut appears to be the ideal mount for someone who can kick and kick over an extended period, but Akehurst has had a little trouble with his choice of rider.
?I have booked Mick Fitzgerald for the ride if he can do the weight of 10st 7lb, but he has just come back from a week in Portugal where, I believe, he rather enjoyed himself.
?Therefore, he may not make the mark. If he doesn?t, I have Seamus Durack lined-up for Alcayde. The horse is in very good form and I expect him to run well.?
