Boiling Point narrowly holds off challenge of Indalo to earn Cambridgeshire glory

Boiling Point narrowly denied the late surge of Indalo to provide Karl Burke and Clifford Lee with back-to-back victories in the bet365 Cambridgeshire at Newmarket.

The North Yorkshire-based trainer and rider teamed up with owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid to land last year’s renewal of the historic handicap with top-weight Liberty Lane and their latest challenger was a 14-1 shot to add his name to the roll of honour under 9st 12lb.

Narrowly beaten in the Group Three Strensall Stakes at York last month, Boiling Point was always up with the pace on his return to handicap company and looked set for an emphatic success after taking lengths out of the chasing pack racing out of the dip.

That big effort to go clear meant he was running on empty as the post loomed and Indalo was finishing like a train. The pair passed the post virtually as one, but the judge confirmed Burke’s charge the winner by a nose.

“He’s a good horse and is a Group horse really,” said Burke.

“Cliff is so good from the front and there was no point pulling him round even with top-weight. It was all about getting him into a nice rhythm and he was either going to be good enough or he wasn’t.

“He obviously went clear and has just hung on. He was running on fumes in the last 100 yards, but thankfully he held on.

“He’ll go back into Group company now, but I’m not sure where – this was the plan.”

Roger Varian, who previously trained Boiling Point, was understandably frustrated by Indalo’s narrow reverse.

“It’s racing isn’t it. It’s annoying, but someone has got to win and someone’s got to be second and we were the winner in another six inches, I should think,” he said.

“He ran great, he just didn’t quite have room to run when we needed it. He’s still not doing everything perfectly, he was a little bit keen again, but when he puts it all together this horse he’s got a very big future.

“He’s progressive, but he’s on a mark where we’re still in handicaps and I think there’s a bit of enthusiasm to keep him for next year. I don’t know if we’ll do any more this year, but he’s one to be excited about as part of the squad for next season hopefully.”