DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY JANUARY 9
12.28 LINGFIELD
Siding with horses from healthy stables is half the battle at this time of year and based on the overall form of Tony Carroll’s inmates, MOON OVER THE SEA 9best price 5-1) rates a confident choice to go well again following a tenacious display at Wolverhampton last time out.
Stepping back up to a more favourable 1m4f after a couple of sighters over shorter trips, the six-year-old seemed more at ease with the gallop set at the Midland venue and still going well on the home turn, he kept on well inside the final two furlongs once easing to the front to get he better of the in-form, Come On John.
Time wise, the race was pretty good for the grade and with the runner-up and sixth going on to endorse the form since, there’s every chance Moon Over The Sea will do the same over a course where he ran well against better opposition three starts ago.
MOON OVER THE SEA – 1-point each-way@5-1
2.32 LINGFIELD
Rookie handler Jack Morland could only have dreamed of the start he has made to his trainer career and with five of his last six runners sent out all winners, STARSHIBA (best price 3-1) is fancied to add his name to the never-ending list.
Held up in last after being slowly away here last time out, Daniel Muscott bided his time until switching his mount out for a clear run down the outside in the straight and in willing fashion, the eight-year-old answered every call to get up in the dying strides.
Scoring a shade cosily, the son of Acclamation’s effort deserved to be upgraded on account of the slow early pace which wouldn’t have necessarily played into his strengths and whichever way today’s contest is run, he should have most bases covered based on his current wellbeing.
STARSHIBA – 1-point win@3-1
3.39 LINGFIELD
ROYAL OBSERVATORY (NAP) (best price 13-8) just got going too late at Wolverhampton last time out but it was a performance that still had to go down as a commendable one under the circumstances and he looks set to compensate those who played him at short odds 10 days ago.
Shuffled back through the pack in the early stages at the Midland venue, Kevin Frost’s inmate was still languishing in the rear as the field rounded the home bend but once straightening up for the judge, he came home with a rare old rattle that carried him to the runner-up spot on the line.
Leaving the impression he was the best horse in the race, a similar patient ride might reap more benefits at a track where the fast finishers down the centre of the course in the home straight tend to get rewarded more than any other all-weather venue and he deserves to be played accordingly.
ROYAL OBSERVATORY – 2-point win@13-8