On LET ME HANDLE IT

Caspar Fownes' LET ME HANDLE IT has been touted as an exciting prospect destined for better races ever since he demolished a Class 4 field by 2.5L in June.  Unfortunately, he has since disappointed twice as the short prize favorite, the first time in Yielding to Soft conditions, and the other when receiving a softer run than the winner Lunar Reflections.

After his win, Fownes specifically said that Let Me Handle It would be a better horse this season, with some mental and physical maturity.  But looking back at his only victory, this will need to be the case if he is to fulfill the lofty predictions many are making.

His performance does not compare at all favorably with Soaring Dragon's unlucky second placing in the Class 3 race.  Let Me Handle It pushed off a a 5 furlong time of 59.53 to come home in 23.21, eased down the last bit.  He also initially ran into the back of a horse early in the straight and therefore didn't start his run until the 350m.  But Soaring Dragon covered the first 5f a touch faster in 59.36s, before unleashing a 23.03s burst to the wire.  And the John Moore galloper did not get the clearest of runs either, which led to his trainer  to lodge an appeal that was eventually overruled.

Caspar was right to stretch Let Me Handle It to a mile in his next starts in Class 3, but that was not enough to lift him over the top of a strong Class 3 miler like Lunar Reflections.