DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
TUESDAY DECEMBER 31
12.30 UTTOXETER
The novice event won by Jig’s Forge at Ffos Las a month ago was a particularly meritorious one for the grade and ANDY AMO (best price 5-1) shaped well enough to be of significant interest in a race arguably not as strong on paper.
Trying to match motors with Ben Pauling’s highly regarded winner proved fatal, as Rebecca Curtis’ gelding faded meekly from two out, but considering the time figure of the race was very good, he fared much better than first feared.
Since that above-average contest, the runner-up and fifth have gone on to provide a valuable insight into the strength of the form and with today’s tempo likely to be a good deal more gentile, this future chasing type should have more left in the tank at the business end.
ANDY AMO – 1-point each-way@5-1
1.05 PUNCHESTOWN
FOLLY MASTER (NAP) made a perfectly satisfactory start to his campaign at Naas last time out and with today’s step up in trip seen as a massive plus, Tom Dreaper’s inmate is fancied to back up his previous win at today’s track.
Having his first outing for 266 days at the Kildare venue, the six-year-old was fully entitled to be outpaced over a trip some way short of his best, but the most pleasing aspect of his effort was the good work he applied to his game in the latter stages, and it certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
Moreover, the speed figure he notched up in defeat was a career high and with anticipated improvement to come, the son of Famous Name rates a worthy favourite.
FOLLY MASTER – 2-point win@9-4
3.05 UTTOXETER
KNOCKANORE (best price 7-2) ran out a decisive winner of a competitive handicap over today’s C&D last time out and now the key seemingly found with Ryan Potter’s inmate, he is fancied to continue his progression through the ranks on his return visit.
Often cutting a picture of frustration, the seven-year-old arrived at the Midland venue off the back of a career high performance behind the progressive Jasmin De Grugy at Southwell and that new-found confidence clearly stood him in good stead.
Always jumping and travelling well 11 days ago, he got into a lovely rhythm just in behind the pace and picking up the running with another good leap three out, he steadily drew clear from that juncture to run out a wide-margin winner.
Numbers-wise, the performance was as good as it looked visually and with the third, The Flier Begley, going on to boost the form at Haydock yesterday, hope is high the son of Shantou can follow suit under similar conditions.
KNOCKANORE – 1-point win@7-2