Marathon Division

MUHANNAK-IR
Owner: R. A. Pegum
Trainer: R. M. Beckett
Pedigree: B.g.,5, by Chester House – Opera, by Forzando

Positives: Muhannak is the defending BC Marathon champion, having brought a good record of four wins from six previous races in moderate all-weather handicaps to California last year to win the first edition of the race with the much more highly regarded Euro import Sixties Icon among the also-rans. This year’s version is a quarter of a mile farther at one mile, but the added trip won’t inconvenience this Irish-bred son of Chester House, and you know he’ll handle the Pro-Ride. In his final BC Marathon tune up at Ascot in late September, he showed a spark of life when fifth of 12 (beaten less than four lengths) in the 12f Cumberland Lodge S.-G2 at Ascot in what clearly was his best performance of what had been a long, dreary campaign.

Concerns: Muhannak hasn’t won since his BC Marathon triumph and is mired in a seven race losing streak. In his defense, he was facing considerably tougher competition this year than last, which accounts in part for his lack of success, but not only has he not won, he hasn’t landed in the frame, either. Additionally, the field for the 2009 BC Marathon appears considerably stronger than last year, so even a similar performance might not be good enough to make much of an impression.

Bottom Line: Muhannak was 12-1 when he won this race last year; he may very well be longer odds in 2009. The BC Marathon is the only stakes race the gelding has ever won, or even placed in. But his much improved effort in the Cumberland Lodge — on grass, his less preferred surface — gives his connections hope that he can somehow rise to the occasion once again.