Denton Hall News

Jawwaal puts his issues behind him to sweep to victory at Ascot

TRAINER Michael Dods has expressed his delight at Jawwaal’s emphatic victory in the Betfred Heritage Handicap at Ascot this afternoon.

The five-year-old gelding was held up by Callum Rodriguez before making smooth headway and sweeping clear to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Ed Walker’s Mountain Peak.

Jawwaal, pictured in the yard with apprentice Aidan Redpath, joined the Denton Hall stable before the 2019 season from the John Gosden yard but had been disappointing until winning the Class 4 Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Handicap at Doncaster on his first run of 2020.

Michael said: “He had some issues last year, and it took a while to get him right, but he’s over them now.

“He’d been running over six and seven furlongs and it took us time to realise that he had the speed for five furlongs. Coming back to five furlongs has been the making of him.

“Today was a big step up and we wanted to see if he was up to it. He’s proved that he is.

“Callum gave him a good, confident ride. He settled him in behind and rode his race in the second part of the race. He did it really well and I’m delighted.”

Michael said he was especially pleased for owners Charlie and Christine Hill, of The Sekura Group, which manufactures doors and windows and is based at Washington, Tyne & Wear.

“They’ve been really good supporters of the yard so it’s nice for them to get a winner at Ascot,” said Michael.

“There are no firm plans for the horse. We’ll see what the handicapper does and have a think about it.”

The race was marred by a serious injury to the David Brown-trained National Anthem. Michael said: “We are obviously delighted to win the race, but our thoughts are with the connections of National Anthem.”