Mutawaqed to recoup losses

Next came the Portland handicap at Doncaster in September. Mutawaqed managed only ninth of 22 behind his old rival Halmahera there, and last but not least came his never-nearer fourth when backed down to joint favourite in Funfair Wain's Ayr Gold Cup three weeks ago.

Of course, any sensible punter knows that following a horse blindly in the hope that he will finally come good can be a swift route to the poor house.

So why in the world does Mutawaqed deserve one last chance in a race where it's possible to argue a case for at least half of a massive field?

In short, it's because he keeps giving the impression that a big handicap like this can come his way if all the pieces of the jigsaw fall into place for him.

Time has shown that Mutawaqed's centre field draw at Goodwood left him in no-man's land, while at Sandown he was clearly up against a rejuvenated rival who was right back to his very best.

Doncaster provided another case of what might have been, as Mutawaqed was making ground with plenty left to offer when Halmahera squeezed him up against the stand rail, and there was more hard luck up at Ayr when he was shuffled to the rear as horses came across him approaching halfway.

Luck in running might and the draw might well have a significant part to play in the outcome tomorrow, and bookmakers will field money for any number of useful sprinters.

The Mick Channon-trained Pic Up Sticks broke a long losing sequence in style when beating Ellens Academy and Smart Hostess at Ripon two weeks ago and, despite a rise in the weights, is still capable of going close again.

Stablemate Compton's Eleven has been running well at this level for some time and is on top of his game after being worn down close home by the gambled-on Khabfair at Ascot, while the Ayr Gold Cup runner-up Fantasy Believer and the York specialist River Falcon also have plenty to recommend them.

However, in a typically open autumn sprint the luckless Mutawaqed seems to have a great deal more going for him than most.

Firstly, he still looks more than fairly treated at the weights from a slightly lower mark than the one he raced from at Ayr.

Secondly, he clearly goes very well at York and six furlongs on fastish ground seems to suit him ideally.

And finally, Mutawaqed will be reunited with Eddie Ahern tomorrow.

"Fast Eddie" will be mustard keen to get back in the headlines for positive reasons after receiving a 21-day ban for his part in a weighing room brawl with his fellow rider Declan McDonogh at the Curragh last weekend.

Ahern summed up the scrap by saying that "one thing led to another and I ended up losing it."

Punters have doubtless felt the same about Mutawaqed for much of this year, but all will be forgiven if he can get it right again back at York tomorrow.