DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY MARCH 29
2.30 STRATFORD
BELLE MONTROSE (best price 11-2), such was the ride she received at Sedgefield last time out, was hard to say whether she just had an off day or whether there were other forces at play, but either way, her previous display at Wincanton is surely a better guide to her chances here and she deserves to be played accordingly.
It was clear from the get-go at the Yorkshire venue Sam Drinkwater’s mare was unlikely to justify her position in the market (sent off 4-1 second favourite), in fact, she ran so badly it was somewhat of a headscratcher compared to the level she achieved just a few weeks earlier.
Fifth behind Chicago Storm at Wincanton on that occasion, the subsequent form has been boosted by the winner, third (twice), fourth, seventh and eighth and a repeat of a similar level of that performance is likely to see her outrun her morning odds.
Moreover, she has twice run well around today’s venue on her two previous visits and with conditions in her favour, she can go well again for a handler who has finally struck a nice bit of form of late.
BELLE MONTROSE – 1-point each-way@11-2
3.35 DONCASTER
There was a time when all you had to do was to follow a lightly-raced four-year-old to guarantee finding the winner of the traditional curtain raiser to the Flat until up popped the likes of Johan, Migration and Mr Professor, and even though the market suggests that trend has a strong chance of returning, ORANDI (best price 11-1) and LATTAM (best price 10-1) might just upset the applecart once again.
The former will arrive here the fittest in the field courtesy of his victory in the Irish equivalent just two weeks ago and given the way he took down some of the best mile handicappers on home soil, it would be foolish to leave him out of calculations despite the Irish raiders not having a particularly good record in this event in recent times.
If you take away his only real challenger in the final furlong, Kortez Bay, he would have beaten that 27-strong field by a space and on the evidence of all his other efforts in similar races last season, there appears no reason to question his performance.
A strong traveller with a smart turn of foot, only being drawn on the wrong side (stall 2) can prevent him from being a potent threat again.
The latter also has strong credentials, having finished runner-up in this race last season and beaten several of today’s rivals when filling out the same position in a big heritage handicap at Ascot on his final start of the campaign.
Indeed, he can count himself unlucky not to win here on the opening day of the season due to a terrible passage through inside the final quarter mile and the same awaited him at the Berkshire venue, when he was forced to challenge on the slowest part of the track late on.
Clearly well suited by strongly run, big-field mile handicaps with some ease underfoot, a cracking draw right down the middle should allow him to obtain all the cover he needs early before being produced with his winning bid at the business end.
ORANDI – 1-point each-way@11-1
LATTAM – 1-point each-way@10-1
5.05 UTTOXETER
PARTY BUSINESS (best price 4-1) hinted at a return to something approaching his best with a much more encouraging effort over today’s course last time out and with a step up in trip and better ground both seen as big positives regard his prospects of backing up that view, Ian Williams’ inmate rates a strong choice heading back to the Midland venue to contest this weaker event.
Despite not landing a meaningful blow at the Midland circuit two weeks ago, he kept on well in the latter stages to finish a creditable fifth behind the improving Hidden Heroics and with the data suggesting the race was by some way the best on the hurdles course that afternoon, the nine-year-old’s performance warrants more merit.
Looking back at some of his old form, he landed a valuable handicap hurdle on at Aintree on Grand National day three years ago off a mark of 132 (140 in his pomp) so while not for one minute suggesting the son of Shantou is likely to be capable of the same level o form here this afternoon, it just shows the sort of opportunity he has been presented with in comparison to his halcyon days and his effort last time out.
PARTY BUSINESS – 1- point each-way@4-1
5.10 CURRAGH
FORT VEGA (best price 5-1) ran a good deal better than the bare result suggested in the Irish Lincoln over today’s C&D two weeks ago and he is strongly fancied to make a bigger impact in today’s slightly less competitive environment on his return visit.
Drawn in stall one in the cavalry charge over the straight mile at the Kildare venue, Sheila Lavery’s inmate was brought over towards the nearside to track the bigger group and even though that manoeuvre ended up being the correct one to a degree, the ground he forfeited in doing so ultimately cost him a large share of the place money.
Although he wouldn’t have beaten the front two, who pulled well clear, there’s an argument to say he was probably at least the third best horse in the race and considering that was his first run for 197 days and only his second in two years, his performance is testimony to his trainer’s skills and his natural ability.
The way he travelled 13 days ago suggested he is clearly in rude health and with conditions set to favour once again, good early cover from stall 10 right down the middle should allow him to preserve energy before being produced with a killer punch late on.
FORT VEGA – 1-point each-way@5-1