WELCOME to our Eyecatchers column! Every week, form expert James Flaherty pinpoints horses primed to strike in the next few weeks, if not days. Remember, you can add James's weekly updates to your ATR Tracker.
TWISTING PHYSICS COULD FIND THE RIGHT EQUATION NEXT TIME
WE'RE GOOSERS
4.10 Newmarket, 14 April
The mile handicap on the opening day of the Craven meeting was won by the aptly named Darn Hot Gallop as it was a true test at the trip, with a finishing speed percentage of 96.39%. We’re Goosers was one of those forcing the pace and made his move too early, before ultimately paying the price late on.
The early pace was strong, but We’re Goosers quickened again from halfway and was clear of the pack at the furlong pole. There was an air of inevitability in what the final furlong had in store though and as his stride shortened dramatically, he was engulfed by the closers near the line.
He could certainly get a mile if ridden with more restraint, but perhaps he may be an even more potent force if dropping back to seven furlongs. Either way, I think he is a well-treated horse off a mark of 84.
ROUSING ENCORE
1.50 Newmarket, 15 April
While he wouldn’t have beaten the winner, I think Rousing Encore could have finished second under a more positive ride in the sprint handicap that opened Wednesday’s card at Newmarket. He always wanted to go half a stride quicker but was held onto as he caught the eye.
In stark contrast, the eventual winner was always on the pace and in the perfect position. Rousing Encore was still last but one with two furlongs left to run, but made some notable late headway to finish fifth, just two lengths adrift of the second.
Looking at his overall profile, he could probably do with a little help from the handicapper from his current rating of 88, but this return suggests that there is a nice sprint handicap pot in him this season. I wonder if it might be at York next month, in the race he won last year (rated 82).
SUMMER IN PARIS
4.45 Newmarket, 15 April
This maiden was steadily run, highlighted by the finishing speed percentage for the final two furlongs of 109.34%. It is hard to close when those at the head of affairs are quickening and that was exactly the task given to Summer In Paris because of her early position.
I think the aim of connections here might have been to get her settled and get her to finish her race as she didn’t quite do that on her final start as a juvenile. She certainly finished better here, staying on nicely under hands and heels despite still looking quite inexperienced.
Summer In Paris makes the cut in the column ahead of Silver Lake because this was her third start and she is now eligible for handicaps. I would expect there is improvement to come from her.
IRONWILL
1.50 Newmarket, 16 April
Even though this sprint handicap was run at a decent pace, the finish was still dominated by those that raced prominently. That can often happen at Newmarket, and I feel Ironwill is the one to take out of this contest as a result, as he fared best of those that raced in the second half of the field.
Ironwill was inconvenienced by a poor start but was then a little keen in the early stages. He travelled well into the race and made significant ground through the middle portion of this race. His effort flattened out in the closing stages though as he possibly paid the price for his big mid-race move.
There is every possibility that he got tired as it was his first run since last September. There are enough reasons to mark up this effort, and I think this lightly raced three-year-old is better than a current mark of 89 suggests.
BRIAN
5.25 Newbury, 17 April
Regular readers might remember that I flagged Brian in this column during his juvenile campaign. After a winless year in 2025, he is starting to look attractively handicapped again and shaped much better than the result here as he endured a luckless passage.
He was squeezed very early in the race and while he had plenty of time to recover, it meant he was further back than intended in the first half of the race. He recovered quickly and travelled well into the race, but had nowhere to go as the race developed. Tom Marquand only really saw daylight late on, when it was all too late.
I don’t know if he has the finishing kick at this distance, as he may be better over seven furlongs. However, a stiff six-furlong track could suit him as he clearly stays further. Ascot comes to mind, especially given his two previous efforts over course and distance there.
TWISTING PHYSICS
4.55 Newbury, 18 April
This was a funny race as it appeared to start like it was going to be a true test and then slowed dramatically in the middle of the contest, before quickening again. There were a few hard luck stories because of the field bunching up before the sprint finish. Valedictory was one, but I thought Twisting Physics was even more eye-catching.
Stepping up in trip by three furlongs, I can understand why he was held up off the pace. He was a little keen as a result having been up with the pace previously over shorter. It also left him in a poor position, and he was further inconvenienced by traffic problems up the straight. Eventually, Spencer bit the bullet by pulling him out into the centre of the track and his finishing effort was hard to ignore.
His splits back up the visual and his final four furlongs were all sub 12.0 seconds. Furthermore, he was quickest of all for the final sectional and coming off three quick previous splits, that is impressive. I think he will be extremely difficult to beat in a similar contest next time, he could be miles better than a mark of 85.
