DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY AUGUST 7
3.50 NOTTINGHAM
TRIPLE FORCE (best price 3-1), other than failing to settle when trying 1m4f for the first time at Beverley two starts ago, has shown a fair level of form in this grade since fitted with the visor and his third victory of the season looks well within reach back over the same C&D when his good run started back in June.
Craig Lidster’s inmate made all the running that day, scoring by nine lengths, and he repeated the dose at Beverley five days later by a smaller margin, but nonetheless in cosy enough fashion.
The wheels came off to a small degree on his return to the Yorkshire venue but last time out at Redcar was a better representation of what he is about, and he was only just outrun by Bamburgh, who was galvanised by the first-time cheekpieces.
Looking at how today’s race might develop, there is a reasonable chance the son of Land Force will obtain the early lead if Roman Secret takes a more circumspect view and with main market rival, Nightsinwhitesatin, likely to be someway off the speed, he will hopefully be in a position of strength when setting sail for home at the top of the straight.
TRIPLE FORCE – 1-point win@3-1
6.05 SLIGO
SPICK AND SPAN (NAP) (best price 10-3) belatedly got off the mark at the 20th time of asking at Ballinrobe last time out but if the speed figure is an accurate guide, there is a decent chance James Fahey’s mare can quickly add to her tally on a return to a course that saw her hit the crossbar on her two previous visits.
The daughter of Walk In The Park has cut a frustrating figure in recent times, especially with those near misses over the C&D but she gained her due rewards with a slick display at the Mayo venue and with the form boosted by the runner up at Cork on Monday gone, she looks booked to catch the assessor with his pants around his ankles.
Based on the data 16 days ago, she ran beyond her current rating of 104 and this in-form, smooth-travelling mare has all the right ingredients to keep climbing through the ranks.
SPICK AND SPAN – 1-point win@10-3
6.23 LEOPARDSTOWN
Quite a few of the usual suspects in races of this nature on show for this Group 3 prize but it’s the two relatively lightly raced pair JANCIS (best price 6-1) and Alakazi who makes the most appeal, with the former gaining the vote on account of being grossly underestimated in the market.
A dual course winner at today’s Dublin venue as a three-year-old, her only defeat in three starts came at Group 1 level when never a factor in the Matron Stakes containing the likes of Porta Fortuna and Fallen Angel and although she has yet to set the world alight so far this season, three of her four efforts have suggested she isn’t too far off returning to winning ways.
Her latest performance at Ascot when only beaten half-a-length into fourth, for instance, was backed up by an extremely smart speed figure – a career high – and now returning to arguably her favourite venue under what appears to be her optimum conditions based on all known evidence, Willie McCreery’s filly can offer the most resistance to the only three-year-old in the field.
JANCIS – 1-point win@6-1
6.30 CHEPSTOW
GREAT ACCLAIM (best price 7-2) has taken a while to find his best form this season but on the evidence of his latest win at Goodwood last week he looks well and truly in the groove and the only previous course winner in today’s line-up can maintain that stat from what appears a favourable draw.
Settled just in behind the early speed at the Sussex venue, Eve Johnson Houghton’s gelding was delivered with his challenge at the cutaway and once getting his head in front inside the final furlong, he showed great battling qualities to fend off his nearest pursuers.
Clearly reacting well to the first-time blinkers, the same headgear is once again in attendance and with the likelihood the field will migrate over towards the favoured nearside fence, he looks to be in the prime position to advantage of stall 10.
GREAT ACCLAIM – 1-point win@7-2
