The one that got away

AL Jaadl came within a cigarette paper of giving Phantom House a treble when she suffered a frustrating reverse at Lingfield last Wednesday.

On the day when Aquilifer struck at Lingfield and Stirling Bridge triumphed at Kempton, Al Jaadl went down in the last stride to lose by a nose in maiden company.

She is back on the beat this week and heads to the Surrey venue for another maiden, again over seven furlongs.

William said: “She was desperately unlucky not to win last Wednesday. But we are hoping that she can put up another bold show and go one better on Friday.

“She has come out of last week’s race well but we are running out of time with her as she has an entry in the February Sale, so it would be nice to win with her before she goes there.

“Dane O’Neill is away skiing so Jim Crowley will take the ride.

“The following day we run Transformer in a mile and a quarter handicap at Lingfield and Jim Crowley is booked again.

“Rated 62, this gelding is a recent addition to our stables having been a galloping companion for Michael Banks’ very useful hurdler Clerk’s Choice.”