DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
TUESDAY FEBRUARY 18
3.35 TAUNTON
EXMOORE FOREST (best price 11-2) has performed well on his two starts post wind surgery and with the pick of the pair coming over today’s C&D, a return to the west country venue should initiate another positive show from Nigel Hawke’s gelding.
The eight-year-old kept on well in the closing stages of the race won by Langley Hundred back in December and with the runner-up going on to advertise the form next time, it was no great surprise that he also performed to a decent standard on his next start too.
Once again, he kept on willingly all the way to the line after being heavily involved in a protracted dual with eventual winner Harjo from the top of the home straight and had the fences not been omitted, it might well have been a different story.
However, it was a display that strongly hinted the wind operation he received pre-Christmas has set off a chain reaction of good results and another looks on the cards now returning to his local track.
EMOOR FOREST – 1-point each-way@11-2
8.00 WOLVERHAMPTON
The race won by King Of Speed here last week was noted for its excellent speed figure for the grade and with the second and fourth boosting the form in emphatic fashion since, confidence is high MARINER (NAP) (best price 4-1) can continue the same theme on his return visit.
The son of Kingman went into the contest at the Midland circuit with no real form to shout about but in finishing a close-up and slightly unlucky third, he left the impression he is about to change the needle.
After taking a keen grip early, he then got shuffled back at a crucial stage of the race and given the way he ran on off the home turn to the line, that interference arguably cost him a winning chance.
Clearly invigorated by the surroundings on his first start at Dunstall Park, a return can ignite happy memories and in the same grade against similar opposition, a repetition of his latest offering will be good enough to see him one of the main players for the second time on the spin.
MARINER – 1-point win@4-1