DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY MAY 17
2.00 NEWBURY
King’s Gambit ran out an impressive winner for Harry Charlton in this race a year ago before going on too much better things and while it would be crazy to suggest stable mate WAVE RIDER (best price 5-1) is in that ilk just yet, he still has enough upside to warrant a small interest to keep the prize on the Beckhampton mantlepiece.
The steady pace didn’t do him any favours at Wolverhampton last time out, but he finished his race off to such effect it’s easy to draw to the conclusion he was the best horse on show and given the one who finished one place ahead of him, Jolly Roger, probably would have won at York this week with a clear run, the form looks solid.
The way he hit the line and on pedigree suggest he has a decent chance of thriving over today’s extra three furlongs and an opening mark of 83 doesn’t appear too penal either.
Of the rest, ASMEN WARRIOR (best price 5-1) deserves a fair shout, and time may tell he has been very unlucky on his first two starts this term.
His conqueror at Redcar first time out, Convergent (now rated 103), ran a more than respectable race in the Chester Vase last week, and the dogs were barking about Skimmer at Leicester last time out, and the Saxon Warrior gelding pushed him all the way to the line.
Just to labour the point, both races were noted for the strong speed figures and similarly to Wave Rider, an opening assessment of 82 might be a shade south of where he might end up.
WAVE RIDER – 1-point win@5-1
ASMEN WARRIOR – 1-point win@5-1
2.15 NEWMARKET
MYTHICAL GUEST (best price 3-1) is by no means a prolific winner, but he easily brings the best current form to the party and, racing at a track that has served him well in the past, George Margason’s gelding can score for the third time in his career.
The five-year-old put in a decent shift behind an improving type over today’s C&D on his first outing of the campaign and then he had the misfortune to bump into the potentially very well treated My Cloud at Ascot last time out.
Looking at all the data from the Berkshire venue, the winner was only just below the speed figure posted by Sardinian Warrior in the Queen Anne trial earlier on the same card, so it puts into perspective what the son of Make Believe was up against that afternoon.
In much calmer waters here today and drawn closest to the stands side rail, which wasn’t a bad place to be at the meeting yesterday, Mythical Guest looks certain to give his supporters a decent spin.
MYTHICAL GUEST – 1-point win@3-1
2.20 BANGOR
As we all know, Donald McCain is a very dangerous man to take on with one of his fancied runners at his local track and SOLDIER IN MAYO (NAP) (best price 9-4) receives a confident vote for the Cholmondely handler ahead of his handicap debut.
Although he ultimately petered out of the battle for supremacy at Sedgefield last time out after making the running, the overall time figure of the race and final circuit sectionals suggested he had run well in defeat and to come out with a rating of just 90, time may tell he survived what could have potentially been a more decisive blow to his prospects going forward.
In keeping with how he was ridden at the Durham venue and the McCain runners in general, like to be handled at today’s venue, he looks almost certain to be asked to make the running again and providing Brian Hughes gets the fractions right up front, the son of Soldier Of Fortune is going to be very difficult to pass.
SOLDIER IN MAYO – 2-point win@9-4
2.35 NEWBURY
Rosallion makes his eagerly awaited reappearance and last season’s Irish 2000 Guineas and St James’ Palace hero could easily turn out to be top dog in this division if he has trained on.
However, there’s little denying Dancing Gemini is holder of the mile title at this moment in time and both he and TAMFANA (best price 9-2), first and second at Sandown last time out, are going to take quite a bit of shifting if they run up to the numbers they dished out at the Esher track.
Dancing Gemini ran out the winner on merit on the day and he backed up his previous time figure at Doncaster in no uncertain terms, but there was a lot to like about the way David Menuisier’s filly shaped on her first outing of the season (looked like she would come on for the run in the paddock) and on a track that favoured being on the speed, her effort deserved upgrading.
11 runs down and she has hardly ever run a bad race, and those stats point towards her being a rock solid each-way alternative to her chief danger and old rival, Dancing Gemini.
TAMFANA – 1-point each-way@9-2
3.50 NAVAN
The further CARMERS (best price 7-2) went the better he looked when making a successful start to his career at Ballinrobe and with the clock also speaking favourably of his effort, Paddy Twomey’s gelding can take this rise in class in his stride.
His Cashel handler has made a fine start to the new season, producing several first-time out winners, but the market wasn’t screaming this guy to be another, so the fact he went against the general tide of the betting suggests he might be a good bit better than what connections anticipated.
Tracking the well backed Kilmeaden (third in a good maiden previously) throughout, the son of Wootton Basset took a while to get organised rounding the sharp home bend, but once straightening up for the judge, he picked up in pleasing fashion, going on to score with a bit up his sleeve.
Clearly the blinkers are on for a reason, but you couldn’t knock his resolution at the Mayo circuit and the speed figure he posted was very good for a race of its kind.
Whether he turns out to be as good as stable mate Arouet, who looked a fair talent at Roscommon the other night, only time will tell, but either way, this once-raced colt is no mug, and he should give one or two highly regarded rivals a fair run for their money over a track that should suit.
CARMERS – 1-point win@7-2