DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY JULY 23
4.45 WEXFORD
SEA ASTER (best price 13-2) was narrowly denied in this race last season and following a bounce back to form at Perth last time out, her bid to go one place better looks to have been timed to perfection.
A winner at Down Royal back in April, Gordon Elliott’s mare had rather lost her way in the interim, but she was good both visually and on the clock at the Scottish circuit and it was a performance that showed what she can achieve when on song.
Given her overall profile, it’s not cast in stone she is a shoo-in to repeat the same level of form, but she is racing around a track that clearly suits her eye and at the prices, a chance is taken on her giving her best.
SEA ASTER – ½ point each-way@13-2
5.37 NAAS
Cardiff By The Sea is undeniably the right favourite based on her runs behind two of the best juveniles seen out so far this season, but she has yet to race on soft ground and, as a result, she is passed over in favour of LAM YAI (best price 15-2), who improved significantly for such conditions at Carlisle last time out.
Talked about in very favourable terms prior to her debut at Thirsk, connections must have been dumbfounded with the way she performed, ultimately finishing stone last of the eight runners with seemingly not that many excuses to be offered forward on the day itself (subsequently reported to have had sore shins).
Given time to recover from that chastening experience for all concerned, the daughter of Lucky Vega tackled similar company on her second outing and this time, on a soft surface, she made no mistake, travelling well throughout before staying on strongly to go clear late on.
Passing the eye test, she also posted a very useful speed figure to boot, and it comes as no surprise to see her pitched straight into a race the same set of connections landed last year with Miss Lamai.
Additionally, considering Karl Burke trains one of the best juvenile sprinters seen so far this season in the shape of Venetian Sun, the Coverham handler must have a far idea what it will take to land a race of this nature.
LAM YAI – 1-point each-way@15-2
7.20 DONCASTER
MODEL YUKO (best price 6-1) created a favourable impressive when scoring with a good deal of panache at Wolverhampton last time out and Roger Varian’s filly looks worth chancing on handicap debut off what appears a reasonable mark.
Having twice shaped well behind the potentially useful Pina Sonata, she was presented with a golden opportunity to put her name in lights at the Dunstall Park venue and having made her intentions clear from the start, she made all the running to take care of the well fancied Godolphin runner, Summer Heat.
Posting a very useful speed figure, she left the impression she could be capable of bigger and better things and even though today’s ground is a slight unknown, she is worth a small risk at the prices.
MODEL YUKO – ½ point win@6-1