DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY JUNE 13
4.10 YORK
SEE THAT STORM (best price 9-2) just lost out in a wild finish to Liberty Coach in The Zetland Gold Cup at Redcar last time out but racing over a track that should play into his strengths, Ed Bethell’s inmate is fancied to turn around the form with his old rival.
Heading into that competitive contest at the Yorkshire venue following four straight wins, latterly over the same C&D, confidence was high he could maintain the levels of improvement needed to capture such a prize and other than a bob of the head not going in his favour, he did pretty much everything else right.
To put it another way, in a few more strides his momentum suggested he would have raced clear of the eventual winner and the rest and providing he breaks cleanly to race prominently around the inside, he can track the pace before being delivered with his customary strong challenge late in the piece.
SEE THAT STORM – 1-point each-way@9-2 (four places)
5.40 FAIRYHOUSE
MIDNIGHT HORIZON (best price 9-2) scored in the fashion of a horse who was way ahead of the assessor at The Curragh last time out and even though today’s test is likely to prove trickier, racing around a bend, Denis Hogan’s inmate is fancied to be just as effective.
Unbeknown to most, the key to her rapid improvement shown at the Kildare venue was a significant drop back in trip and the way she travelled before putting the race to bed over the extended six furlongs spoke heavily in favour of a horse who had far too much pace to be running over middle distances, as she had done previously.
The other positive to take out of her performance was she was far more well behaved in the stalls than has been the case in the past and providing that part of her act goes swimmingly here this evening, she is going to take some stopping in her bid to repeat the dose.
MIDNIGHT HORIZON – 1-point win@9-2
6.34 CORK
Magnum Force would make mincemeat of today’s field if anywhere near his best but there is a certain leap of faith taken with Ger Lyons’ inmate after his last run and the better value option is to side with SONGAI (best price 5-1), who ran a blinder over today’s course last time out.
For one so inexperienced and with no form on turf, it was a big ask for Johnny Murtagh’s filly to match motors with some useful sprinters of her own sex but in defying her 33-1 odds, she duly justified connections’ faith to finish a close-up third.
Moreover, had she not had to switch and challenge away from the pace over towards the far side late on and she may have well bettered her position and with a drop back to the minimum trip not seen as an issue given the way she travelled 38 days ago, the daughter of Sands Of Mali rates a strong each-way bet at the morning odds.
SONGAI – 1-point each-way@5-1
7.50 GOODWOOD
SILVER WRAITH (best price 11-2) shaped like a drop back to the minimum trip would be a good move at Windsor last time out and she is fancied to back up that theory on handicap debut off what appears a favourable mark.
Keen on her first outing of the season at Kempton, Emma Lavelle’s grey once again ran with the choke out at the Berkshire venue a month later and, as a result, she couldn’t quite sustain her challenge having looked quite dangerous a furlong out.
Looking at today’s pace map, the likes of Walnut and Desdemona can ensure help her to settle by setting decent fractions and if so, there’s more than a fair chance she can be more competitive at the business end.
SILVER WRAITH – 1/2-point each-way@11-2