DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY JUNE 8
3.35 GOODWOOD
A wide open-looking listed contest with a field full of fillies with varied abilities, but with the conditions deteriorating in the last 24 hours (now heavy), MODERN UTOPIA (best price 12-1) might just prove to be the joker in the pack.
Although George Scott’s filly failed to cut much ice at Chester last time out, she wasn’t totally disgraced behind subsequent Oaks heroine, Minnie Hauk, and when you consider the quick surface wouldn’t have been anywhere near to her liking, it was probably a better effort than first feared.
Looking at her profile from last season, she really came into her own when presented with a stamina test on soft ground and with quite a few of her main market rivals not certain to relish the prevailing conditions, she can easily outrun her morning odds.
MODERN UTOPIA – ½ point each-way@12-1
4.20 PUNCHESTOWN
LONDONOFFICECALLIN (best price 5-1) has adjusted well to life since switching to Gavin Cromwell and following another solid effort at Ballinrobe last time out, the eight-year-old looks poised to strike again at a track that has served him well in the past.
Slightly below par on his first run back after a break previously, the son of Alhebayeb bided his time towards the rear at the Mayo venue until brought with his challenge after the last but as things panned out, the front two obtained first run and he couldn’t get going in time to reel them back on the short run-in.
That said, he hit the line with enough gusto to suggest he will be a different proposition over a more galloping track next time and with connections quick to seize upon that opportunity, he has a decent chance of adding to his two previous victories at the Kildare venue.
LONDONOFFICECALLIN – 1point each-way@5-1
4.45 GOODWOOD
Hamish is undoubtedly the headline act in this listed contest, but he is getting a little long in the fang and a chance is taken on BOLSTER (best price 9-2) being good enough to capitalise on the possibility of the favourite coming up short on his first run for 217 days.
Karl Burke’s inmate set out to make all the running at Chester last time out, but he was pestered for the lead and, on his first outing for 188 days, he just got a little weary in the closing stages and was picked off by three more patiently ridden rivals.
Sure to be all the better for that initial outing, like stable mate Liberty Lane (finished third) who won next time out, the five-year-old entire also has his favoured soft underfoot conditions in place here this afternoon and even though he ventures into unknown territory regards the 1m4f trip, he is worth chance at the morning prices.
BOLSTER – 1-point win@9-2