DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MAY 9
2.05 CHESTER
AL WASL STORM (best price 9-2) took a big step forward from his initial display when chasing a strong stayer home at Lingfield last time out and with expected further improvement to come, Owen Burrows’ colt can maintain his handler’s fine recent run.
All at sea on his debut at Newbury, the son of Affinsea was up against a heavily backed rival who was expected to improve significantly for the switch to James Owen and although that turned out to be the case, he was the only one who offered any resistance to the 11-10 favourite inside the final half a mile.
In what turned out to be a war of attrition at the business end thanks to the strong pace set, the three-year-old grey kept on willingly all the line to the line and with that baptism of fire likely to have done him a world of good in terms of both his physical and mental state, he should be ready for anything that is thrown at him here this afternoon.
AL WASL STORM – 1-point win@9-2
3.40 CHESTER
PENZANCE (best price 8-1) ran well in the Thirsk Hunt Cup for a horse who was racing over a trip short of his best last time out and, as a result, he should deliver a more prominent display under his optimum conditions.
Better known for his exploits on the all-weather in recent times, he is surprisingly still awaiting his first win on turf, but the way he finished off his race at the Yorkshire venue off solid fractions hinted it won’t be too long before he finally snaps that unwanted stat.
All his data, including last time out, point towards him having the necessary combination of speed and stamina for today’s test and providing he can be delivered wide on the favoured part of the track late on, there’s every chance he can gain career win number six.
PENZANCE – ½ point each-way@8-1
4.10 CHESTER
SMALL FRY (best price 11-4) must have pleased connections with the way he performed on his first outing of the season at Epsom a month ago and with this race presumably the target for some time, Gary & Josh Moore’s gelding can strike again on the Roodee.
The four-year-old had a brief dalliance with hurdles but to no avail and that project was soon shelved in favour of him pursuing his burgeoning career on the Flat.
Returning to the fray following a 137-day break at the Surrey venue, he was sympathetically handled into third place behind two well fancied rivals and with the time figure suggesting it was a fair race for the grade, it was a surprise to see the assessor drop him back down to 78.
A smooth winner on his only previous visit to today’s track, the son of Harzand has also gone and bagged a decent draw and with these apprentice races usually run at a good clip, a ground-saving trip around the inside should see him spring into life at the business end.
SMALL FRY – 1-point win@11-4
4.23 MARKET RASEN
Mickey Bowen didn’t have to wait too long for his first success since handed the licence off his old man and LETTERSTON LADY (best price 6-1) could well provide the Welsh trainer with more success in this competitive handicap.
To say the seven-year-old mare has had a truncated career would be an understatement but between long periods off the course, she has knocked out some impressive performances.
Off the track for the thick end of two years when reappearing at Ffos Las recently, the daughter of Getaway managed to overcome such a layoff with a battling display to gain a slice of the pie behind two in-form rivals and with the race already beginning to take shape with Kado De Joie winning at Worcester two days ago, hope is high this useful mare can follow suit.
LETTERSTON LADY – 1-point each-way@6-1
8.!7 DOWNPATRICK
BEARAMI CREEK (best price 10-1) caught the eye with the way she finished off her race at Ballinrobe over hurdles last time out and a chance is taken Peter Fahey’s mare can build on that performance with no obstacles in the way.
Having her first run under rules for new connections, the daughter of Shantou was plonked in the rear at the Mayo venue and she still only had one behind her with a circuit t to run.
However, she made up a huge amount of ground in the final mile of the contest and if there would have been another furlong to race, there’s little doubt she would have won.
With that in mind, today’s slight extra yardage and stiffer track will no doubt suit and providing she is ridden in a more forward going fashion, the five-year-old can give her supporters more hope than just running on into the frame this time around.
BEARAMI CREEK – ½ point each-way@10-1