Soho Lennon can end losing sequence in Chandon Pace

Champion trainer Gary Hall sen. is confident that four-year-old Soho Lennon will end a losing sequence of eight by leading all the way in the first qualifying heat of the TABtouch Chandon Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.

Soho Lennon’s prospects soared when he drew the prized No. 1 barrier and punters will be keen to recoup their losses after the gelding’s defeat as favourite at three of his past five starts.

He was a 10/9 on favourite last Friday night when he started from the No. 3 barrier and raced three wide early before enjoying a good passage in seventh place in the one-wide line. He battled on doggedly, but was a well-beaten fifth behind Jay Bees Grin over 2130m.

“Soho Lennon is good in front,” said Hall, who pointed out that the gelding had made full use of the No. 1 barrier when he started at 7/2 and led all the way when he defeated In The Perfect Storm and Machtu in the 1730m Nights of Thunder final at Gloucester Park early last January.

At his previous outing, a fortnight earlier, Soho Lennon finished strongly from seventh at the bell to finish second to Crusader Banner over 2130m.

Leading reinsman Gary Hall jun. has elected to drive Soho Lennon in preference to stablemate A Boy Named Rosie, who will be resuming after a spell. A Boy Named Rosie will be driven by Clint Hall from barrier six on the front line.

Clint Hall drove A Boy Named Rosie when the four-year-old finished strongly to come from last to win a 2150m trial at a 1.58.4 rate at Byford on Sunday morning.

Hall jun. has opted to drive Run Oneover in preference to Hez The Jazz Man in the 2130m Sky Racing Pace for three-year-olds. The stablemates raced at Pinjarra on Monday afternoon when Run Oneover raced three wide for much of the way before winning by four lengths at a 1.55.5 rate over 1684m.

But Hez The Jazz Man, favourite at 5/1 on, disappointed when he raced in the one-out, one-back position and finished third behind Machrihanish over 2185m.

Run Oneover is poorly drawn, out wide at No. 8 on the front line on Friday night, and he is sure to receive stiff opposition from Machrihanish, Mynameskenny and the Greg and Sky Bond trio of Change Stride, Holy Grail and Assassinator.

Run Oneover, a winner at three of his 16 starts in New Zealand, has won easily at his first three starts in WA. “He’s pretty smart and was impressive at Pinjarra,” said Hall sen. “But he’s no superstar.”