DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MAY 16
2.42 YORK
5-1 the field is a fair reflection of the complexities of this 1m2f handicap but HAVE SECRET (best price 14-1) and BINT AL DAAR (best price 14-1) have enough credit in the bank to warrant a small interest at their respective prices, and they are recommended against the field.
The former arrives here in fine shape thanks to his most recent success at Ripon and with the visor he wore to buck his ideas up back in operation, Richard Fahey’s gelding must come into the conversation in his bid to follow up.
Moreover, the speed figure he posted 29 days ago was easily his career best and having also gone well on the five times he has stepped foot on the Knavesmire, his 14-1 quotes probably underestimate his claims.
The same can be said for the latter as she also has more in her favour than the market suggests. Her run at Nottingham over an inadequate trip last time out hinted that she is running herself into prime form and it’s worth pointing out it took her three starts before she hit the mark last season.
Too add to the list of positives, the daughter of Muhaarar’s two best speed figures have come at York on fast ground and as we saw here yesterday and many times in the past, a wide draw isn’t necessarily a barrier to success on the Knavesmire.
HAVE SECRET – ½ point each-way@14-1
BINT AL DAAR – ½ point each-way@14-1
2.10 YORK
Richard Hannon has had a good Dante meeting with his juveniles and Harry’s Girl rates a strong favourite to continue the trend in this useful-looking listed race.
At the same time, she hasn’t been missed by the layers and there looks to be some decent value to had elsewhere with SAUCY JANE (best price 13-2) who has the benefit of two runs under her belt and has a run style for this fast, five-furlongs.
Posted out in the widest stall on her debut at Pontefract, she did well in the circumstances to finish a close-up second and she duly built on that initial effort by going on to score in impressive fashion at Beverley last time out.
Once again, given no respite with the draw, stall 13 of 13 is usually enough to restrict most horse at the Yorkshire venue, let alone a two-year-old, but to her great credit, she showed brazen early speed to lead after a furlong and keeping up a very strong gallop throughout, she strode further clear in the latter stages when the laws of physics suggested she should be slowing down.
Clearly a very pacey juvenile based on the data she produced 11 days ago, it’s hard to see anything touching her during the first part of today’s contest and providing Sam James can get the fractions right in front, she has a decent chance of giving her rookie handler with his first victory at pattern level.
SAUCY JANE – 1-point each-way@13-2
5.25 KILBEGGAN
MALBAY MADNESS (best price 9-2) was good visually and on the clock in equal measures when scoring over today’s C&D last time out and he is worth keeping on side in his bid to follow up.
Bogged down with soft, winter ground prior to arriving at the Westmeath circuit, Dermot McLoughlin’s inmate turned out to be a totally different proposition on a quicker surface and the way he quickened to seal the deal in between the final two flights was the feature of his performance.
Since his win 22 days ago, both the runner-up and third have boosted the form with excellent efforts in defeat and under similar conditions, the five-year-old will surely play another significant role in the outcome.
MALBAY MADNESS – 1-point each-way@9-2
6.48 LEOPARDSTOWN
PEPPER NOIR (best price 10-1) has acquitted herself quite well in two much stronger races than the one she faces today this season, and she is fancied to take advantage from the drop down in class against her own sex.
Her six-length defeat behind Himalayan Heights over the C&D reads well in the context of tonight’s race and based on the data, filling out the same position in a quality fillies contest at Sligo last time out was hardly a backward step either.
Dropped to a mark of 80, close to her last winning position in the handicap, she has a favourable inside draw and ideal underfoot conditions to finally lay the ghost to rest of not yet winning on turf.
PEPPER NOIR – ½ point each-way@10-1