DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY AUGUST 11
7.10 WINDSOR
WOOLHAMPTON hasn’t had a great deal to show for her recent endeavours but with a decent draw, step up to six furlongs and plummeting handicap mark all positives in her direction, Rod Millman’s mare might be capable running better than her form figures suggest.
Last time out at Ascot for instance, she had little chance from stall 1 in a race where the first three home were drawn 14, 13 and 12 but despite this impost, she was noted doing some sterling late work out on the wing to indicate she is returning to something like her best.
Similar to her plight at the Berkshire venue, on her two previous visits to tonight’s track she has been forced to race away from the favoured stands’ side rail but, as she only got beaten less than two lengths on each occasion, her efforts deserve a slight upgrade.
Housed in stall 1 on her return to the Thames-side track, hopefully she will find the slightly less hectic nature of a five-furlong sprint more in her favour and off a mark lower than her last success under a year ago (88), she can outrun her morning odds.
WOOLHAMPTON – ½ point each-way@12-1
7.25 BALLINROBE
JOLIE JEWEL (best price 6-1) found two miles an insufficient test at Galway last time out but now stepping up to a trip that should see her in a better light, Brian McMahon’s mare can gain due rewards for a series of consistent performances.
The six-year-old held every chance coming out of the dip and meeting the rising ground in a competitive handicap at Ballybrit and although she stayed on in determined fashion all the way to the line, she just lacked the basic speed of several others who were more accustomed to racing over the minimum trip.
Prior to that respectable effort two weeks ago, the daughter of Spider Flight filled out the runner-up spot on her two previous visits to tonight’s track and with the speed figures from each race suggesting she has reached peak levels, a return to the Mayo venue is very likely to flick her switches.
JOLIE JEWEL – 1-point each-way@11-2 (four places)
7.40 WINDSOR
JAX EDGE (best price 4-1) has had the crossbar in splinters on her three starts so far this term and with tonight’s extra furlong a likely pathway to her chances of making amends, Chris Mason’s mare deserves to be played accordingly.
As per usual, the five-year-old mare raced prominently and keenly during the early stages of a five-furlong affair here last time out but she was allowed to drift away from the favoured stands side rail by her inexperienced pilot and ultimately that failure to correct her pathway to the line cost her dear.
Runner-up on her two previous starts, unlike Tommy Fleetwood, has managed to get the job done twice in recent times and with all of her speed figures during that period at a high level, another positive result looks on the cards.
JAX EDGE – 1-point each-way@4-1