DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY AUGUST 2
1.55 GOODWOOD
DANCING IN PARIS (best price 11-) got thrown under the bus by the ride given by Marco Ghiani at Newmarket last time out and he is taken to bounce back to form if handled in the appropriate manner by today’s jockey change here this afternoon.
Best when held up and delivered late off a strong gallop, as he proved in the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle two starts ago, Ian Williams’ inmate took off in the hands of his Italian pilot at HQ and, as result, he was always likely to be a sitting duck to the closers in the latter stages, which is exactly how things panned out.
Prior to that blob on his dance card, the five-year-old has proven to be a reliable conveyance in staying handicaps for the thick end of a year and with one of his better runs on the figures coming over today’s C&D behind the smart French Master, a performance of a similar magnitude should see him easily outrun his odds.
DANCING IN PARIS – 1-point each-way@11-1 (four places)
2.37 GALWAY
Ross O’Sullivan ended a bit of a fallow period by his standards with a nice winner here on Thursday (Strong Link) and the Kilcullen handler could well be keeping the bunting up in the meantime with VOLANTIS (best price 13-2) a strong fancy to add to his fine record around today’s track.
Winner of this race last season, the seven-year-old used a conditions contest on the Flat at Roscommon to fine-tune his preparations and not wanting to break the continuity, the exact same contest over 1m4f was his chosen engagement to put the finishes touches in his bid to defend his crown twelve months on.
Although never a threat at the Lenabane venue, he didn’t shape too badly until getting visibly tired late on and now returning to a C&D where he is unlucky not to be unbeaten (only lost out by half a length the year before), the son of Workforce should be primed to go well again under ideal conditions.
VOLANTIS – 1-point each-way@13-2 (four places)
3.05 GOODWOOD
PUROSANGUE (best price 9-1) ran no sort of race in this contest last year but as the ground would have been way too fast for Andrew Balding’s gelding, a chance is taken on him being a more potent threat with conditions coming in his favour just in the nick of time.
Sent off 9-2 favourite twelve months ago, supporters of the four-year-old soon knew their fate and in the end, he only beat four horse’s home.
Although he failed to trouble the judge in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot under similar quick conditions, he did shape better than the bare result suggested, and it was a performance that offered plenty of hope for the future.
22135227 when there has been soft in the going description, the son of Aclaim has run to levels just below top class when conditions have been in his favour and drawn on the fresh strip of ground over towards the far side next to likely trail blazer, Hammer The Hammer, he should get the perfect tow into the business end of affairs.
PUROSANGUE – 1-point each-way@9-1 (five places)
3.12 GALWAY
One of the most tried and trusted formulas at Ballybrit over the years has been to side with those who have run well over the track earlier at the meeting and TEED UP (best price 13-2) rates a strong choice to follow up his victory on the Flat three days ago.
Emmet Mullins’ inmate had an amazing record of 2111121 until totally flopping twice here last season but after being cut some slack by the handicapper and freshened up in the interim, he came roaring back to something nearing his best, getting up in the dying strides to walk away with another hugely competitive contest tucked under his arm.
Considering he stumbled badly at a crucial stage, his effort was even more praiseworthy and even though he is unproven over today’s trip, the fact he stays 2m on soft ground on the Flat harbours hope he will see it out well.
TEED UP – 1-point each-way@13-2 (five places)