DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 1
4.12 ROSCOMMON
MOREHAMPTON (best price 5-1) has created a favourable impression on his two starts to date and with further progression likely, Johnny Murtagh’s inmate remains one to keep on side.
The Sea The Moon colt was a big eye-catcher first time out at Leopardstown, running on well until meeting a bit of a roadblock close home and he carried that promising start through to his latest encounter at Gowran.
In-keeping with most winners at the Kenny venue, he jumped well to lead from his favourable inside stall position and in a commanding display from the front, he maintained a decent gallop throughout to score with plenty of authority.
Posting a useful speed figure to boot, it is worth pointing out the fifth and seventh have since gone on to fight out the finish to a similar contest at Naas last week and with another attacking ride likely to be forthcoming, Morehampton can get first jump on main market rival Summer Is Tomorrow, who has to overcome the widest stall of all.
MOREHAMPTON – 1-point each-way@5-1
5.30 WINDSOR
LAVENDER GOLD (best price 3-1) showed more than a fair share of promise on his debut at York 38 days ago and with today’s underfoot conditions likely to be more favourable for David Menuisier’s colt, he is expected to play a far more active role in proceedings.
Slowly away as the gates crashed back on The Knavesmire, the son of Victor Ludorum found himself parked in the rear division as the field turned for home, but he was noted making some useful late headway inside the final two furlongs and considering he wasn’t knocked about to do so, his performance was probably better than it was on paper.
Unfortunately, the winner, Amakhala Warrior, has a new residence over in Hong Kong, so we won’t get to see him again over here, but the form did get a nice boost when Red Spells Danger (third home) ran a blinder in the Convivial maiden back over the same C&D two weeks ago.
Clearly too green to do himself full justice in what was probably a decent contest, hopefully he will be a totally different proposition here today and from a sire whose offspring tend to appreciate plenty of ease in the ground, any more showers will aid his cause even further.
LAVENDER GOLD – 1-point win@3-1
6.30 WINDSOR
RAGE OF THUNDER has a nasty habit of missing the break and giving himself plenty to do, but this trait hasn’t prevented him from running to a high level on his last three starts and a chance is taken on Gary & Josh Moore’s gelding maintaining his series of fine results back at the scene of his most recent exploits.
Once again, the three-year-old was tardy leaving the gates at the Berkshire venue 37 days ago and, as a result, he was outpaced and struggling to hold his position at halfway.
However, he came home to really good effect inside the final two furlongs and with a few more strides he would have undoubtedly reeled in the eventual winner, Novamay.
Posting a speed figure to match his previous runner-up spot at Newbury, the son of Inns Of Court was good enough to make up the lost ground at Salisbury back in June and even though he is likely to put his supporters through the mixer again, he is still expected to pull something out of the fire.
RAGE OF THUNDER – 1-point each-way@11-2 (four places)