DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
TUESDAY APRIL 15
2.25 NEWMARKET
GREEN STORM (best price 4-1) enjoyed an ultra-consistent campaign as a juvenile and having already experienced today’s undulations when runner-up at Group 3 level on his penultimate outing, that valuable knowledge Mark Johnston’s colt has over the rest of the field might just prove to be the key component to success.
Just run out of the argument by a horse with a similar profile at HQ, he did however, post the sort of speed figure in defeat that suggested his progression had continued in the right direction and that view was backed up by his final performance at Group 1 level at Saint Cloud two weeks later.
Although beaten the useful Tennessee River at the French track, he still came away from the contest with his reputation intact and with today’s conditions much suitable for him than they were 170 days ago, the son of Circus Maximus has the ideal platform to kick-start his season.
GREEN STORM – 1-point win@4-1
3.15 SOUTHWELL
SORCELEUR (best price 7-2) could never land a meaningful blow at the main players in the Imperial Cup at Sandown after spending the majority of the journey sucking his chops at the back of the field, but he did offer up some encouragement for the future with the way he finished off his race and today’s contest represents a decent opportunity to show what he really can do.
For a horse who often races prominently, it was strange to say the least to see Paul Nicholls’ gelding kicking around at the back of the field at the Esher venue and in the end, he did remarkably well to finish as close as he did after being 25 lengths off the leaders turning for home.
On the evidence of that display a month ago, he clearly remains in good form and with most of his best career performances in the past coming in small fields on good ground, the five-year-old has been given a golden opportunity to maintain that record in today’s much less stressful environment.
SORCELEUR – 1-point win@7-2
8.30 KEMPTON
FEDERATED (best price 3-1) has twice lacked a bit of tactical speed against Midnight Lion at Newcastle over 1m2f, but now returning to a C&D that saw him in a much better light this time last year, John Butler’s gelding has more than a fair chance of rinse and repeating that effort.
Prior to his defeat at the Gosforth Park venue 17 days ago, he had run out a comfortable winner at the same track over 1m4f and his victory over today’s C&D also suggested that was his optimum trip.
Moreover, he now drops back into Class 5 company and the booking of Billy Loughnane has to be seen as another massive plus.
FEDERATED – 1-point win@3-1