DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY JULY 4
2.40 WEXFORD
Competitive stuff but as ONEBRIGHTBLUEROSE (best price 7-1) is one of only three C&D winners in the field and arrives here in fine form, Patrick Cronin’s mare makes plenty of each-way appeal at the morning prices.
The six-year-old mare hasn’t been totally bomb proof around the Bettyville Park venue but it has to be significant that both her career wins have come over the C&D and the latest one of those successes came only two starts ago.
Well backed following a positive run previously, the daughter of Excelebration travelled sweetly throughout and once sent for home jumping two out, she never looked like relinquishing her advantage.
Although she failed in her bid to repeat the dose at Clonmel last time out, she still ran well to suggest she remains in decent shape and now back at her happy hunting ground with her winning pilot back in the saddle, she looks booked to give another solid account.
ONEBRIGHTBLUEROSE – ½ point each-way@7-1 (four places)
3.35 SANDOWN
Five-furlong sprints over this track are not for those of a nervous disposition but hopefully NAD ALSHIBA GREEN (best price 8-1) can provide her supporters with a reasonably pain-free watch and one of only two C&D winners in the line-up has a decent chance of keeping that stat intact.
Mick Appleby’s filly arrives here in tremendous form following a smooth success at Nottingham last time out and her time figure suggested she had run right up to her previous best.
The daughter of Dark Angel also showed an impressive turn of foot when breezing by the improving Huckelsbrook (now rated 96) over the C&D last season and with similar conditions in place for her return to the Esher venue, she looks overpriced to maintain her handicap record of 12134231.
NAD ALSHIBA GREEN – ½ point each-way@8-1
5.56 BANGOR
LUNE DE LA MER (best price 5-2) found one too for the third time in a row on chase debut over today’s course last time out but given the race in question was such a good one based on the data; the locally-trained gelding is afforded another chance to gain compensation.
Sporting blinkers for the first time at the Welsh venue, the eight-year-old held every chance turning for home but despite keeping on stoutly all the way to the line, he just couldn’t get to grips with Sovereign Star, who maintained the solid gallop he’d set from the outset.
Prior to that commendable effort, he can count himself unlucky to run a career high speed figure and yet still get beat and in the hope the combination of retained new headgear and comforts of his home track galvanise his mind, the son of Sea Moon can gain career win number three.
LUNE DE LA MER – 1-point win@5-2
6.15 BEVERLEY
GOOD EARTH (best price 9-2) is not far off from drawing a well-deserved pension but before he does, he is not quite a gone deal where races of this nature are concerned and he deserves to be played accordingly.
Even though today’s race is a Class 4 event, there is little doubt his two previous contests in the same grade have been way more competitive and classier affairs and considering he didn’t get the rub of the green in either, his performances are best not to be taken at face value.
Prior to those commendable efforts, the son of Acclamation ran right up to his best form behind the useful Trilby over today’s C&D and with his overall record on the Westwood one of a horse who clearly thrives on a stiff five-furlongs, another positive display looks on the cards.
GOOD EARTH – 1-point each-way@9-2
8.25 HAYDOCK
BYZANTINE EMPRESS (best price 9-1) hasn’t managed to build on her solid effort over today’s C&D in the manner anticipated but she might well have done so with a clearer run at Newbury last time out and that performance offers up hope she is capable of easily outrunning her morning odds.
In-keeping with her capacity to miss the break, she was once again tardily into her stride at the Berkshire venue but she did settle well in the rear through the early paces and by halfway, she was poised just on behind the leaders.
However, from that juncture she ran into the kind of congestion befitting Friday evening rush hour on the London underground and she ended up having to settle for a minor role just outside the placings.
Clearly in better form than that bare result suggests, it has to be worth pointing out her best speed figure came courtesy of that third-place finish here back in May and even though she will always remain a bit of a hostage to fortune, she is still worth a small interest to see whether a repeat of that display is good enough for her to get her head in front on this occasion.
BYZANTINE EMPRESS -1/2 point each-way@9-1