3 minute read

Johnston gelding too good in Haydock opener

Jason Hart kept things simple on Mind The Crack  in the Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap at Haydock – and made sure every post was a winning one.

Having shaped well in three outings last year for Mark Johnston without winning, the gelding made no mistake on his seasonal return at Lingfield in May.

On his handicap debut off a mark of 83 here, Mind The Crack never looked in any danger, pulling further and further clear to win by three lengths in very testing ground.

Jason Maguire, racing manager for winning owners Paul and Clare Rooney, said: “He obviously loved the ground – he stays really well and he’s not hard on himself, (and) you could see he was flicking his ears in front.

“I’d say he’d get further than this (mile and a half), and (assistant trainer) Charlie (Johnston) thought he might be well handicapped.

“I don’t think he needs it, but he certainly handles it very well.

“He might be a horse for the Melrose (Stakes, at York) later in the year.”