DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY JUNE 28
2.25 YORK
If recent evidence is a guide, Wathnam Racing purchases are never normally wide of the mark and PABORUS (best price 3-1) could well turn out to be another shrewd acquisition following on from their tremendous five winner haul at Royal Ascot.
Ed Bethell’s gelding attracted the attention of his new suitors when scoring in tidy fashion at Thirsk on his only start this season and with the data pointing heavily in favour of the performance, it came as no surprise that current connections, very much numbers driven, went to a pretty penny to acquire his services.
As there wasn’t an obvious race for him at Royal Ascot, it’s plain to see why this contest was the natural stepping stone for the son of Recoletos and even though he faces no easy task against Queen Anne fifth, Lake Forest, he rates the value call to see whether he can hack it at this level.
PABORUS – 1-point win@3-1
3.00 YORK
At least three confirmed front runners in this line-up, so there shouldn’t be any hanging around and the strong pace looks likely to play into the strengths of JM JUNGLE (NAP) (best price 9-4), who is developing into a proper track specialist in recent times.
Connections of the five-year-old must have been tearing their hair out crossing paths with subsequent Group 1 winner American Affair on his first two starts this season but he did finally get his day in the sun at Epsom last time out, once again proving that a sharp five-furlongs suits him best.
Although beaten by Habooba over today’s C&D in the interim, John & Sean Quinn’s gelding arguably saw too much daylight in a race run a little more steadily run than he is used to and with the likelihood he will receive more cover on his return to the Knavesmire, his course record can be further enhanced.
JM JUNGLE – 1-point win@9-4
3.35 CHESTER
GHAIYYA (best price 11-4) gained her due rewards for a series of fine placed efforts when scoring at Thirsk last time out and with a run style that very much lends itself to thinking she will be tricky to pass around these tight turns, Charlie Johnston’s filly is worth chancing on handicap debut.
Up against two well fancied rivals at the Yorkshire venue, the daughter of Ghaiyyath ensured there was no hiding place from the outset and once kicking for home off the home turn, she never looked like relinquishing her advantage.
Posting a smart speed figure 11 days ago, she arrives here right on top of her game and being the only confirmed front runner in the field, a decent break from stall 3 should see her churning out the sort of fractions that can break her opposition.
GHAIYYA – 1-point win@11-4
5.20 CHESTER
Time may tell ALESSIA FERNANDA (best price 7-1) was in a very deep contest at Nottingham last time out and while today’s race can’t be considered a total gimme by any stretch of the imagination, Declan Carroll’s mare is still fancied to run better than her morning odds suggest.
Previously trained by Dermot Weld, the five-year-old chestnut enjoyed instant success for new connections when making all at Musselburgh back in April and despite things not panning out to her advantage at the Midland venue two months later, she did manage to walk away with a career high speed figure.
Unable to boss the race 27 days ago like she had previously, there is a decent chance she will be left alone at the head of affairs if exiting the stalls reasonably well and even though she goes into unknown territory trip-wise (first time she has raced beyond 1m1f), her price dictates she is worth the risk to see out the extra furlong.
ALESSIA FERNANDA – ½ point win@7-1
5.25 YORK
The race won by Classic Encounter here at the last meeting was noted for its strong speed figure for the grade and LEADENHALL (best price 13-2), the biggest eye-catcher in the field that day, can back up the impression he created on his return visit.
Taken back by Joanna Mason in the early stages, Tim Easterby’s gelding was still in last place as the field turned for home but with a sustained run from three furlongs out, he managed to work himself into a four-way go for the prize.
Only beaten by inches, the data, however, suggests he was very much the best horse in the race (34.6 from three out compared to the winner’s 35.1) and in a race that doesn’t appear to have too many well-treated, improving types against him this time around, compensation awaits this largely consistent son of Kingman.
LEADENHALL – ½ point each-way@13-2 (five places)