DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY MARCH 30
2.30 DONCASTER
MODERN UTOPIA (NAP) (best price 5-2) ended last season on a high with two straight victories and with the potential of even more to come as a three-year-old, George Scott’s filly is fancied to back up that view and complete her hat trick.
The daughter of Sottsass really found her stride once sent handicapping and stepped up in trip and her smooth success at Nottingham in October was backed up by an even more impressive display at Newmarket two weeks later.
A light framed filly who probably doesn’t take that much to get fit at home as most, expect her to be delivered with her customary late run after being put to sleep through the early exchanges.
MODERN UTOPIA – 1-point win@5-2
2.45 ASCOT
TORRENT (best price 13-2) has enjoyed a lucrative first season over hurdles and having hit the frame on all eight runs so far to date, Nigel Hawke’s inmate can be relied upon to continue the same theme under conditions that suit him best.
On his last three starts, the son of Camelot has been set stiff tasks up against the likes of East India Dock and Nietzsche Has, but despite being outclassed by those genuine Graded performers, he has plugged on in typically determined fashion to claim a slice of the pie.
Earlier in the season, he was fully effective on proper good ground and with all his speed figures strongly suggesting he can handle a well-run affair under such conditions, the consistent and likeable juvenile can make the frame once again at the very least.
TORRENT – ½ point each-way@13-2
4.20 LEOPARDSTOWN
DAHLIA NOIR (best price 22-1) failed to score as a juvenile, but she did show promise in at least two of her four starts and with the pick of her form coming over today’s track, a chance is taken Donnacha O’Brien’s filly maintaining that theme on her return to the Dublin venue.
Admittedly, the daughter of Ten Sovereigns didn’t quite progress as well as anticipated following her encouraging debut over today’s course back in May, but the form of that excellent effort reads extremely well in the context of this race with the likes of winner, Scorthy Champ and fourth, Hotazhell, both going on to record Group successes later in the campaign.
A close-up third in a bigger field on her only other start at the track suggests she might prefer racing at the Dublin circuit than anywhere else and bred to get distances beyond what she encountered as a two-year-old, point towards easily outrunning her morning odds on handicap debut off a workable mark.
DAHLIA NOIR – ½ point each-way@22-1