DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY MARCH 6
5.00 THURLES
Cian Collins is rapidly making a name for himself on either side of the Irish Sea but domestic matters take precedent here today and the pick of his two runners comes in the shape of CROSSING THE BAR (best price 8-1) in this competitive handicap hurdle.
It’s probably not unfair to say the son of Poet’s Voice is a bit of a quirky customer but as he proved at Catterick last time out, he is more than capable of pulling up his socks when the opportunity presents itself.
Hitting the front on the run down to two out, the eight-year-old had plenty of challengers waiting in the wings to knock him off his perch if he dropped the ball but instead, he dug deep for pressure in the latter stages and, in the end, he actually won a shade snugly.
Based on his previous exploits, that victory 34 days ago was no more than he deserved and on drying ground set to suit, it would come as little surprise if he were the one to cause the strongly fancied favourite, Rushmount, with the most to think about.
CROSSING THE BAR – ½ point each-way@8-1
5.20 WINCANTON
JUST AIDAN (NAP) (best price 11-4) and Feet On The Ground are the two who standout in terms of recent form in this concluding handicap and the former just receives the slight vote on account of his excellent effort over today’s C&D two starts ago.
Third to Chicago Storm on that occasion, the time figure he posted in defeat was such he was very strongly fancied to go two places better if running to the same level at Lingfield next time and true to form, he duly made no mistake with a bit to spare.
Although he didn’t quite match the numbers at the Surrey venue he achieved previously, the heavy ground probably accounted for a slight dip on that score, but even so, it was still a performance of some merit and of a horse right on top of his game.
The way he travelled 34 days ago before putting the race to bed readily was the feature of his display and with today’s better ground – similar to underfoot conditions here back in January – set to suit, Harriet Dickin’s inmate can go well at the track for the fourth time.
JUST AIDAN – 1-point win@11-4