DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MARCH 28
3.32 WETHERBY
JACOVEC CAVERN (NAP) (best price 2-1) looked to have the race at his mercy when taking a nasty tumble at the final hurdle on his latest outing at Cork but providing he hasn’t suffered any lasting effect from that untimely exit, the Gaelic raider can make the trip over the Irish Sea a worthwhile exercise.
Heavily supported at the Mallow venue to get the better of a competitive 20-strong field (14-1 into 6-1), Paul Hennessy’s inmate was always well positioned throughout and once kicked clear after rounding the home turn, he held a five-length advantage before disaster struck at the last.
Clearly in rude health on the evidence of that display, his effort in the Greatwood Hurdle behind Burdett Road & Co(Go Dante, Fiercely Proud and Cracking Rhapsody all won big handicaps since) also reads well in the context to today’s race and with his favoured conditions once again in the ascendancy, the six-year-old can prove his current mark to be some way short of his ceiling.
JACOVEC CAVERN – 2-point win@2-1
6.30 DUNDALK
DUKE OTTO (best price 11-2) wouldn’t be the quickest thing on four legs, but he does stay well, and he arrives here in good form following a hard-fought victory over hurdles so he might be worth chancing on his return to a C&D where he was a bit unlucky previously.
Having his first run for 110 days at Wexford last time out, the situation didn’t look overly promising with half a mile to race but he stuck to the task in admiral fashion, and he ultimately ended up outstaying the big two in the market, Addragoole and Balko D’Ange on the run-in.
Looking at his data from the Bettyville Park venue, his overall speed figure and final circuit sectionals work out almost the same as one of today’s main rivals Billie Frechette, who was third in the opening maiden hurdle over the same C&D and, unlike Noel Meade’s filly (0-14), the son of Sir Prancealot has proven he can win.
Moreover, the seven-year-old can be deemed slightly unlucky not to finish closer than he did here back in November when not receiving the clearest of passages throughout the final half a mile and providing they go the sort of gallop that will help bring his stamina into play, he can go close to supplying his in-form handler with another winner.
DUKE OTTO – 1-point each-way@11-2