DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY AUGUST 29
4.08 THIRSK
The C&D handicap won by RHYTHM MASTER (best price 15-2) earlier in the month was noted for its strong speed figure and with the form already beginning to work out accordingly, both he and third home, DESERT FALCON (best price 13-2), are worth playing against the field on their return visit.
The former landed that prize at the Yorkshire venue in game fashion, fending off the renewed challenge of Eldrickjones once hitting the front inside the final furlong and although he has got beaten since, the stiff mile at Newmarket can be used as a valid excuse.
Clearly better suited by racing around a bend over seven furlongs, he also has form figures at today’s C&D that read 421, and with what is likely to be another strong gallop to aim at, Geoff Harker’s inmate can maintain those impressive stats.
The latter was one of two partly responsible for the gallop here 27 days ago and ultimately, he did well to hang tough for a slice of the pie.
Like his old rival, he too has impressive C&D form of 123 and providing he is ridden with a little more of a conservative nature, the five-year-old can maintain his excellent series of recent results.
RYHTHM MASTER – ½ point each-way@15-2 (four places)
DESERT FALCON – ½ point each-way@13-2 (four places)
4.58 SANDOWN
Unexposed three-year-olds at this of the season usually end up holding sway in races of this nature and NEPAL (best price 4-1) is fancied to come out best of the four from his category over a track that should play into his strengths.
As we know, today’s track often favours those racing up with the speed and based on his over profile and how he was ridden at Yarmouth in victory last time out, George Scott’s inmate should at least be in a prime position to attack facing the hill.
Having his first run for new connections since leaving Joe Murphy in Ireland, the son of Camacho made light work of his opposition at the seaside venue and with the speed figure over subsequent winner Forever Penywern suggesting he had run to a decent level, he might have done well to walk away with the same rating (82) heading into his handicap debut.
Conversely, his main market rival, Keble Spirit, has a habit of missing the break and from his inside draw, he could find himself with a wall of horses in his way when looking for room up the home straight.
NEPAL – 1-point win@4-1
5.53 DOWN ROYAL
A well-contested handicap hurdle that brings several with good solid recent form to the party, none more so than AVALO (best price 4-1) and Peter Fahey’s gelding scores high on many fronts when assessing some of the main players on paper.
A maiden hurdle winner at Wexford over 2m4f back in May, the six-year-old was a shade disappointing on handicap debut at Clonmel next time out, but back of a small break, he returned to something approaching his best at Cork last time out.
In a race truly run, he stayed on well to hold every chance going down to the last, but a blunder handed the advantage to Cappa Hill and on the shortish run-in, he didn’t have enough time to recover his momentum.
However, he did post a smart speed figure for the grade in defeat and with the third (runner-up) and sixth (won) both going on to boost the form since, Avalo is very much expected to follow suit in this similar contest.
AVALO – 1-point win@4-1