DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 5

4.35 SEDGEFIELD

BELLE MONTROSE (best price 5-1) ran with credit in quite a decent race for the grade at Wincanton last time out and a repeat of something in the same ballpark should see Sam Drinkwater’s inmate turn out to be one of the chief candidates for glory in this similar race.

Held up towards the rear at the west country venue, the six-year-old mare stayed on nicely to finish just behind the main protagonists late on and with the speed figure of the contest boosted by the third home, Just Aidan, at Lingfield last week, it’s probably safe to say she performed to a level beyond her revised rating of 90.

Looking at her overall profile, her only really poor run came on her first run of the season after a big break but other than that, she has performed reasonably well in all of her other races to suggest she can land something small at some stage and today’s contest most definitely fits into that bracket.

BELLE MONTROSE – 1-point each-way@5-1

6.30 KEMPTON

Grenham Bay is undoubtably the most solid option in this tricky six-furlong handicap but he is also vulnerable to a potential improver and HARRY DID (best price 10-3) could easily have his measure if getting a more favourable rub of the green than he has been getting of late.

A massive eye catcher at Wolverhampton on his first run of the winter, his inability to settle when sent up in trip at Newcastle proved his downfall next time but at Southwell last time out, he once again indicated it surely won’t be too long before he gains his just rewards.

Held up towards the rear off a frantic early gallop at the Midland circuit, Harry Eustace’s gelding took a while to gather his stride in the straight and by the time he had managed to hit top gear, both Many A Star and Ormolulu had slipped through his fingers.

However, the way he hit the line to finish a never-nearer third was encouraging to say the least and now returning to a track where he was just narrowly denied last April back down in class, it would be a major surprise if the lightly-raced four-year-old wasn’t capable of stirring the pot.

HARRY DID – 1-point win@10-3