DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY AUGUST 16
1.50 NEWBURY
PINHOLE (best price 2-1) finally justified connections’ high opinion of him when scoring in facile fashion at Ascot last time out and with Ralph Beckett’s colt seemingly coming good heading into the second half of the season, he remains one to keep on side.
Heading into the campaign as one of the stable’s chief Derby contenders, alongside Pride of Arras and Stanhope Gardens, the son of Frankel’s classic aspirations were put on hold following a hefty defeat at the hands of subsequent Epsom hero, Lambourn, in the Chester Vase and his reputation was further tarnished with another below-par effort at Royal Ascot next time.
Back in trip with cheekpieces on for the first time, his sights were significantly lowered at the Berkshire venue last time out and although it may have only been a handicap, the speed figure he produced in winning by a wide margin suggested he was operating a decent level – certainly one of a pattern race performer.
Still in The St Leger prior to today, he will have to win and win well to justify that entry but on the evidence of his most recent display, it would come as little surprise if he were to book his ticket to Town Moor.
PINHOLE – 1-point win@2-1
3.00 NEWBURY
Richard Hannon was 1-52 in the last fortnight heading into yesterday but with two quick winners at today’s track, confidence is high that CLASSIC (best price 7-2) can continue the Wiltshire handler trending in the right direction.
A convincing winner at Sandown two starts ago, the five-year-old was pitched into a white-hot handicap at Ascot last time out and despite racing over a furlong shorter than usual, he came of the contest with his most creditable performance so far to date.
Travelling strongly down to the furlong pole, he looked the most likely winner when striking the front at that juncture and if it wasn’t for the late rattle of Two Tribes, he would have gone on to record a comfortable success – pulling well clear of the rest.
Since that race a month ago, the winner has gone on to land the Stewards Cup and the fifth, Kodi Lion, was unlucky not to follow suit at Haydock last weekend (didn’t get the clearest of runs), so the form looks a reliable source.
Moreover, the son of Dubawi has plenty of solid runs under his belt over today’s course and with his speed figures suggesting he can run to a high level every time, another bold bid looks inevitable.
CLASSIC – 1-point win@7-2
3.20 RIPON
Probably not the classiest Great St Wilfred ever run with only two horses in the field rated over 100 and because of its general overall weak feel, MISTER SOX (best price 10-1) may prove good enough to come out on top.
Traditionally, you would normally look beyond a horse rated 80 in a race of this nature but Tim Easterby’s gelding offsets that viewpoint with the fact he has a particular liking for today’s C&D and his latest victory at the Yorkshire venue took his tally to 2-2.
The five-year-old completed an early season hat-trick when getting up close home to score here back in May and just when it seemed as though that success would be his last of the season, he popped up again on his return to his happy stomping ground.
Coming from a long way back and challenging away from the favoured stands side rail wasn’t enough to prevent him from winning with plenty up his sleeve and providing he doesn’t end up being inconvenienced by the (low) draw, he has a decent chance of following in the footsteps of Mattmu and Staxton, recent winners of this race for the same stable.
MISTER SOX – ½ point each-way@10-1 (five places)
3.35 NEWBURY
WITNESS STAND (best price 9-2) probably didn’t get the credit he deserved due to what was going on in behind him at Goodwood last time out and he is fancied to prove his victory in the Lennox Stakes was no fluke.
The withdrawal of Kinross down at the start obviously made life slightly easier for the four-year-old and the injury to Noble Champion that caused a ripple effect to some of the runners also added to the drama but whereas Quinault and Audience, the other two up with the pace, fell in a hole unable to keep up the pace, he kept on running powerfully all the way to the line.
Unsurprisingly, the speed figure he posted was right up there with his previous best and having already proven himself over today’s C&D with a notable victory this time last year, the game son of Expert Eye can once again play the underdog role with distinction.
WITNESS STAND – 1-point each-way@9-2