DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 12
2.40 SOUTHWELL
HIERARCHY (best price 4-1) has been knocking at the door of late and providing he gets a more conventionally run race than he experienced at Kempton last time out, there’s every chance Jamie Osbourne’s gelding can go one place better and be rewarded for his consistency.
Way off what turned out to be a tepid early gallop at the Sunbury track, the six-year-old turned for home with just one behind him and fully ten lengths off the pace but running the last three furlongs in 32.9, he rescued the situation to finish a never-nearer second.
Disqualified for weighing in light two starts ago at Lingfield and just touched off on his next start at Newcastle, he deserves a change of luck and providing he can break better and organise himself a position of strength in the early exchanges, he has the finishing kick to make himself nuisance at the business end.
HEIRARCHY – 1-point win@4-1
3.55 DUNDALK
SOTTSANDS (best price 16-1) shaped well on her racecourse debut here 16 days ago and with just normal improvement, Ado McGuiness’ filly can outrun her morning odds.
Draw 16 of 16 for her opening gambit, life was always going to be difficult for the daughter of Sottsass and although that theory turned out to be the case, her performance with still an encouraging one all the same.
Despite being stuck out wide for most of the journey, she came home with plenty of purpose to finish a never-nearer fourth and with the speed figure suggesting it was a decent race of its kind, her effort deserves even more praise.
A barrier trail winner over the same C&D during the summer, she clearly knows here way around the Co Lough venue and with a better draw on her return visit, she can clip the wings of several better fancied rivals.
SOTTSANDS – ½ point each-way@16-1
4.03 HEREFORD
KLIC BOUM (best price 7-1) didn’t shape too badly on handicap debut at Chepstow last time out and with today’s opponents deemed nowhere near as good as what he faced 15 days ago, Evan Willliams’ inmate looks set to be heavily involved in the finish for the first time in his short career.
The five-year-old was never in a position where he was likely to win at the Welsh venue but to finish just behind the main players after seemingly going nowhere turning for home was a good effort under the circumstances and one that can be built on in future.
Moreover, the time figure and overall standard of the race in question was extremely high for the grade and with plenty of doubts hanging over most of his rivals here today, including favourite Oh My Johhny to name one, the son of Buck’s Boum can easily make his presence felt.
KLIC BOUM – 1-point each-way@7-1
4.25 KEMPTON
FOLLOW YOUR HEART (best price 11-2) has been running well since returning off a mid-winter break and based on both performances, he looks poised to strike at a track where is a three-time C&D winner.
Slowly and not getting the clearest of runs meant he wasn’t seen with a winning chance on his return to action at Wolverhampton two starts ago but it was a platform from which he was able to build on when returning there a month later.
Breaking better to hold every chance turning for home, he couldn’t quite get to grips with He’s Gentleman, who kicked and obtained first run off the home turn, but he did keep on willingly all the way down the straight and his second place finish in a competitive field many in-form rivals was a real positive step back in the right direction.
Hailing from a yard in decent form and with a useful apprentice on board, the seven-year-old can roll back the years if on the shoulders of the pace turning for home.
FOLLOW YOUR HEART – 1-point each-way@11-2