DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY FEBRUARY 24
3.15 PLUMPTON
A quality race by the track standards which has brought together a field from a variety of backgrounds and the one who makes the most appeal is GAYE LEGACY (best price 11-2).
Tom Symonds’ mare was rather thrown to the wolves on her first outing for 311 days at Sandown recently but despite being up against a competitive field full of in-form stayers, she kept on bravely to finish a respectable fourth behind the likes of Red Dirt Road, Henri The Second and Goshen.
Interestingly, looking at the data from her run at the Esher venue, she ran the final circuit in almost an identical time to one of her main rivals today, Sole Solution, winner of the novices’ handicap hurdle, and considering her race was over half a mile further and much more stronger run from the outset, it puts into contest her effort off such a healthy break.
Sure to be all the better for that initial outing, her overall profile strongly suggests she always puts in a decent shift and this strong stayer at the trip, seen best when the mud is flying, has plenty in her favour to ruffle a few feathers.
GAYE LEGACY – 1-point each-way@11-2
4.35 AYR
PARK ANNONCIADE’s (best price 4-1) brief flirtation with fences looks to have been put on hold for the time being following two crashing falls and judged on his performance back over hurdles here last time out, that decision might turn out to be a rewarded on his return to the Scottish venue.
Extremely well backed to get back on track over the C&D 35 days ago, the seven-year-old seemed to be going as well as anything on the approach to three out but a mistake soon disrupted his progress and although he rallied gamely to the cause late on, the ground he forfeited couldn’t quite be bridged.
That said, it was a much more promising performance than of late and, just as important, it would have gone a long way to regain his confidence, clearly suffering given the way he was massaged throughout the race out wide.
Down in grade and back at a track that has served him well in the past, this looks a golden opportunity for him to turn the tide.
PARK ANNONCIADE – 1-point win@4-1