DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY JULY 2
5.13 THIRSK
ROBERTO CARO (best price 9-2) easily came out best of those drawn high in a competitive contest at York last time out and returning to the scene of one of his previous C&D wins, Adrian Keatley’s inmate has a reasonable chance of making it career win number four.
As we’ve seen over the last few seasons on the Knavesmire, a position towards the stands side rail has become increasing difficult to overcome and the son of Inns Of Court found out to his cost 18 days ago.
However, despite this impost, he did manage to make a brave fist of a bad job and finish a close-up fourth and a performance of that nature strongly hints he is ready to get back into the groove back at a track where he was successful this time last year.
ROBERTO CARO – 1-point each-way@9-2 (four places)
6.10 TIPPERARY
Not the strongest two-year-old listed contest ever run and without any really big names on show, ARUGAM BAY (best price 11-1) has every chance to step up to the plate on a track where she has already performed to a decent standard.
Although beaten on his only start at the Limerick Junction venue, her effort when runner-up to Joyful Tidings deserved to be heavily marked up due to her being drawn on the wrong side of the track.
Finishing well clear of those positioned around her that day, the daughter of Soldier’s Call was presented with an even trickier draw to overcome at Fairyhouse last time out (stall 15 of 17) but breaking well from the outside gate to get over and race prominently, she then saw out her race well to win a degree of comfort.
Although the overall form of the race probably falls short of what is require here tonight, she was obviously a good bit better than the bare result suggested and now back on a level playing field with a target to aim at in the shape of likely trailblazer, Fresh Fade, she looks to be seriously underestimated by the layers.
ARUGAM BAY – 1-point win@11-1
7.58 EPSOM
Sudu may well have made an immediate impact on handicap debut at Newbury with a clearer passage at the business end and there’s a good chance he remains well handicapped.
However, he has been well found in the market and he does face an opponent in the shape of BIG BEAR HUG (best price 5-1) who makes more appeal at the prices based on his recent data.
Although he didn’t set the world alight on the numbers with his victory at Godowood last time out, it was a performance that still highlighted his current wellbeing and if you go back and analyse some of his runs from last season, he has the capabilities of putting it up to tonight’s favourite at the very least.
His two placed efforts at Newbury and Nottingham respectively produced notable speed figures in defeat and when you then add in the fact, he has performed well on all of his five previous visits to tonight’s unique track, his chances of pulling off a small shock are more realistic than his odds suggest.
BIG BEAR HUG – 1-point each-way@5-1 (three places)