Jim Crowley: He’s a nice horse who deserves a big win

Jockey and Coral ambassador Jim Crowley discusses his rides at York on Saturday and Salisbury on Sunday.

Saturday York 3.05 – Israr

I head to York on Saturday for two nice looking rides for the Shadwell team. The first of them is Israr, a lovely homebred son of Muhaarar who I’ve won on a couple of times, and he ran a lovely race on his return to finish second to a nice one (Haskoy) at Newbury, only beaten a short head.

We’re stepping up in trip by two furlongs here, but he runs as if he’ll get the extra distance and he has good form on quick ground, so good to firm will be fine for him here. I’d hope he has a leading chance – he’s a nice horse who deserves a big win.

Saturday York 3.40 – Rabaah

Our second runner is another homebred, this time by Dubawi, and again he’s a two-time winner for me. Rabaah has done all his racing over this trip of six furlongs and he should step forward for his last run, as he went into that off the back of a break following the two wins.

We had hoped he might make up into a Commonwealth Cup horse, but that hasn’t happened, he just ran a bit too free early on at Newbury last time and didn’t get home, so I’d look to drop him in and get some cover here.

His two wins have both come on the all-weather, but there’s no reason why he can’t go well on turf – and in an open sprint handicap, he’d have an each-way chance.

Smart horse this.

RABAAH makes light work of a penalty at Wolverhampton for @cbhills pic.twitter.com/hOvCFAOfTg

— Off To The Races (@OTTR_Elliot) February 27, 2023