DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY MARCH 16
3.02 CHEPSTOW
The race won by Immortal Fame at Southwell last month was highlighted by a very strong speed figure for the grade and with MILITAIRE (best price 10-3) being the only one of nine-strong field to offer any resistance to the winner in the closing stages, his upgradable effort deserves to be followed up to see whether he can gain due compensation.
There was certainly no hiding place at the Midland venue with the winner taking the field along at a solid pace from the outset and Warren Greatrex’s gelding seemed to have no issues holding his position just in behind the speed.
Unfortunately, when the winner kicked again turning for home, he became a little outpaced but he stayed on strongly again in the style of a horse who should be better suited to further and with connections recognising that possibility, the lightly-raced eight-year-old is worth a chance to back up that view.
MILITAIRE – 1-point win@10-3
3.37 CHEPSTOW
BLUE LAS (best price 7-2) was left with way too much to do at Sandown last time out but at least she left the building with her head held high with the way she finished off her race and in what appears to be a much weaker race on paper, Sam Thomas’ mare can strike gold for the second time this season.
Always held in high regards by connections, the daughter of Blue Bresil had gradually worked her way up the ladder and she fully deserved a crack at Grade 2 company at the Esher venue but as things panned out, being held up off the pace did not quite work out.
That said, she came home strongly in the latter stages to suggest she has plenty more to offer and off a mark of 121, it would be something of a surprise if she did not back up that view on her first handicap assignment.
BLUE LAS – 1-point win@7-2
3.45 CURRAGH
A typically wide-open renewal of this traditional big-field handicap to kick off the Irish Flat turf season and ORANDI (best price 12-1) can make his mark if his run here back in November is any sort of guide.
Having his first run for Tony Martin, the seven-year-old was bidding to end a frustrating losing run of placed efforts at the Kildare venue and although he came up just short of the day, he left the impression he might well have won with a smoother passage.
While the first two home that day, Rhythm King and Gleneagle Bay obtained first run inside the final two furlongs, the son of Morandi got caught in a pocket momentarily and although he did extremely well to rally to the cause, it was a battle he ultimately had to accept in defeat.
Considering he hit the line strong and challenged down the slowest part of track (stands side favoured that day), he came out of the race with plenty of credit and having scored over the course on his previous visit, he has the credentials to do so again with any amount of luck in running.
ORANDI – 1-point each-way@12-1