DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 1
1.50 LEOPARDSTOWN
This informative juvenile contest often has a big barring on what might occur in the Triumph Hurdle but with the likes of East India Dock and Lulamba already setting the place on fire in this category, the main players are going to have to do something special to muscle their way towards the top of the current ante post market for the big one in March.
Saint Lucie passed the eye test when making a winning debut at Punchestown but whether she achieved quite as much as stable mate LADY VEGA ALLEN (best price 10-3) did when chasing home Hello Neighbour over the C&D at the last meeting is open to question and the daughter of Saint Des Saints rates the value call accordingly.
Emerging out of the fog to chase Gavin Cromwell’s gelding, she was gaining on the eventual winner hand over fist on the run in and if she had begun her run a little sooner, there’s little doubt she would have prevailed.
Either way, it was a highly promising start to her career for her current handler and with normal improvement, there’s every reason to believe she can turn the tables with her old rival.
LADY VEGA ALLEN – 1-point win@10-3
2.17 MUSSELBURGH
Afadil was always likely to be popular having won this race last year, but with some of his stable’s runners still feeling the effects of their winter flu jabs, it may pay to look elsewhere for some value – and FREDDY ROBINSON (best price 11-1) fits the bill.
Only once has Brian Ellison’s inmate finished outside the money in eight starts at the Scottish venue – coming in a seven-furlong contest as a juvenile – and his latest effort when runner-up to progressive Heart Above was his best display based on the data.
Since then, the six-year-old had a nice spin at Sedgefield just six days ago to put the finishing touches to his preparation and based on his overall profile, he looks to be seriously underestimated.
FREDDY ROBINSON – 1/2point each-way@11-1
2.50 MUSSELBURGH
MARBLE SANDS (best price 9-2) won nicely on this corresponding meeting last season and arriving here in decent shape following a fine runner-up spot at Cheltenham last time out, the nine-year-old grey looks poised to repeat the dose.
Time may tell he faced an impossible task coming up against rising star Springwell Bay at Prestbury Park last month, but it was another run that strongly suggested 2m4f is his trip of choice rather than being asked to stretch out over further (0-3 over three miles).
Prior to that excellent effort, the son of Martiline had lowered the colours of the useful Colonel Harry in an intermediate chase at Carlisle and he looks destined to be one of the main players here this afternoon based on all known evidence.
MARBLE SANDS – 1-point each-way@9-2
3.42 SANDOWN
O’CONNELL (best price 5-2), unlike many of today’s rivals, is improving at a rapid rate of knots and in a race that should turn out to be tailor made for his run style, the nine-year-old is fancied to keep up the fine recent run of his stable.
Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith’s in-form chaser has found a nice groove in his last two starts and the way he travelled and jumped before going on to score in consummate ease at Market Rasen last time out left the impression he is now ready for a bigger stage.
Clearly well suited by a test at three miles and a right-handed track, the nine-year-old has a cruising speed that should keep him in contention coming out of the famous railway fences for the second time and being as he is a winner over 3m3f, he should also have the requisite stamina to see the job through.
O’CONNELL – 1-point win@5-2
4.40 WOLVERHAMPTON
The race won by Old Harrovian at Newcastle two weeks ago was noted for its huge speed figure and METALLO (best price 4-1) looks set to fly the flag for the form with distinction if adapting his game to a track he tackles for the first time.
Andrew Balding’s winner at the Gosforth Park venue bossed the race in such a manner, very little had a chance of coping with a horse who surely must be pegged as a future pattern winner on an all-weather surface, so there was certainly no disgrace in Metallo chasing him home, in turn, pulling clear of many other in-form rivals.
Even a three-length defeat to a horse of that calibre reads well in the context of today’s race and although he faces the likes of Smart Hero and Cynosure, who fought out the finish to a decent race over today’s course last time out, jack Channon’s inmate is still expected to have the necessary tools in his armoury to cope.
METALLO – 1-point win@4-1