DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26
2.45 WETHERBY
ART OF DIPLOMACY (best price 11-4) has been run off his feet over shorter trips than he faces today on his last two starts but now back over three miles, Peter & Michael Bowen’s inmate can prove to be a much more potent force.
Completely out of his comfort zone early as Real Stone set very fast fractions over 2m3f here last time, it wasn’t until the backend of the contest until the nine-year-old found his stride but by then, the winner had flown, and he was only vi=ying for a minor role.
That said, his time figure in defeat was good and with the sixth home winning since, it’s clear the form is useful for the grade.
A previous winner over today’s Yorkshire track and returning to a trip more in-keeping with his profile, the son of Archipenko has solid claims.
ART OF DIPLOMACY – 1-point win@11-4
3.05 WINCANTON
If KLIC BOUM (best price 11-4) had a voice, he would have been screaming out to his trainer after his last two runs, “please run me over three miles” and although his wishes haven’t quite been realised just yet, today’s trip on heavy ground should be a sufficient test for Evan Willaims’ inmate to finally deliver the goods.
At Chepstow two starts back, he was doing all his best work at the finish over 2m3f and, after hitting a flat spot coming out of the back straight at Hereford last time out, the same comments applied to his work in the final half a mile.
Based on all known evidence, today’s 2m5f, heavy ground and more sedate pace should but right up his street and looks a decent each-way alternative to the favourite.
KLIC BOUM – 1-0point each-way@11-2
7.30 KEMPTON
QUAI DE BETHUNE (best price 6-1) and Opera Ballo were both equally impressive with the respective victories over the C&D a month ago but with the time figure the former achieved slightly more favourable of the pair, Andrew Balding’s inmate receives the percentage call at the morning odds.
Opera Ballo quickened impressively to a record a final three furlong split of 33.8 but to be fair to the son of Persian King, he wasn’t slouching around with his 34.2 from the same juncture and then when you add into the mix there was over a second and half between the pair in terms of the overall time (1.39.05 against 1.40.64), Quai De Bethune’s performance comes with plenty of credit.
Clearly, we are dealing with two above average types and there’s a good chance Opera Ballo has decent prospects of following a similar path to last year’s winner Notable Speech, but just dealing with tonight’s race in isolation, the pair are simply too far apart in the betting and Quai De Bethune looks the sensible option in the with and without the favourite markets combined.
QUAI DE BETHUNE – 1-point win@6-1
QUAI DE BETHUNE – 1-point win@5-1 without Opera Ballo