TANGRAMM sported blinkers for the first time yesterday at Wolverhampton and the 8yo son of Sakhee’s Secret came back to form with a convincing win under jockey George Downing.
One of 13 runners in the handicap over one mile one and a half furlongs, the well-supported 14/1 shot was drawn well in stall six and was settled in midfield as one of the market leaders, Double Reflection led the field at a brisk pace. Always travelling nicely, the stable runner made headway two furlongs out, was ridden over a furlong from home and went clear inside the distance to win going away by a length and a half.
This was Tangramm’s fifth success over course and distance and his 11th victory in 50 starts. He had been off the course for 292 days before his last run in mid-September at Chelmsford, when he was entitled to need the run. He clearly came on for the run, was well handicapped on his best form and definitely benefitted from the application of blinkers for the first time in his career.
Tangramm did win on the turf last year for the first time, at Nottingham but he has always shown a preference for an artificial surface and was indeed All-Weather Winning Most Horse in 2015/16 when winning seven times. Congratulations to owner Roger Beadle for whom this was his second win this year following Lordsbridge Boy’s Salisbury success a month ago. While the handicapper will undoubtedly put him up a few pounds, if the blinkers work for a second time, who’s to say that Tangramm will not get his head in front again before the end of the year?
It’s been a frustrating summer for the yard but the horses generally are running much better now and Harper Lodge Farm can hopefully enjoy more success this autumn.