DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 4
6.40 LAYTOWN
DISTILLATE (best price 9-2) had to be marked down as an unlucky loser at Bellewstown last week and compensations awaits Ado McGuiness’ mare at a track where obtaining a clear run shouldn’t be a problem.
The five-year-old was in a perfectly good position heading into the bottom hair-pin bend at the Meath circuit but in a concertina effect, she got shuffled back right towards the rear of the field when several horses failed to handle the turn in the correct manner.
As a result, she only had one behind her with three furlongs to run so to end up finishing a never-nearer third was an amazing effort in the circumstances and it was a performance to rubber-stamp the view she remains in fine form.
Prior to that unfortunate episode, the daughter of Havan Grey came out the best of those draw low (stall 5) on a day when the stands’ side rail was king at Naas (first three home 17, 13 and 16) and on the evidence of both these two runs, she looks primed to gain her due rewards.
DISTILLATE – 1-point each-way@9-2
7.00 SEDGEFIELD
THE NAVIGATOR (best price 9-2) once again proved he is no back number when scoring at Cartmel last time out and now heading back to a venue where his career record reads 61121231, Dianne Sayer’s gelding has a decent chance of maintaining those impressive stats. .
The 10-year-old had been slightly disappointing on his four previous starts over hurdles during the summer, but he seemed much happier on a return to a quicker surface and the strong pace also helped him settle better than is sometimes the case.
Unsurprisingly, given the gallop set, his overall speed figure in wearing down in-form front-runner, Gavin, was one of his career best efforts and considering he remains on a lower mark than the one which saw him land a C&D handicap when last appearing at the Durham venue, the evergreen grey has strong claims of following up.
THE NAVIGATOR – 1-point each-way@9-2
7.10 LAYTOWN
Come On The Lads and Expound have been in decent form over jumps of late, but whether they have the basic speed to cope with SHOOT TO KILL (best price 9-2) over seven furlongs in open to question and Noel Kelly’s recruit is given a confident vote to press home that view on the final race of the only day’s racing on the beach.
The eight-year-old has had more trainers than Emma Radacanu throughout his career but his yo-yo lifestyle hasn’t prevented him from winning no fewer than 11 times and with the latest of those successes coming in comfortable fashion at Gowran, his durability shows no signs of waning.
Pulling right away from reliable form guide Harry The Rogue in the closing stages, the Dandy Man gelding ended up posting a career high on the speed figures and with the third, Glamorously Glam, going on to boost the form back at the same track two days ago, it seems pertinent to stay loyal to the race run 22 days ago – even though it was only a claimer.
Picked up by new connections to presumably do a job throughout the winter at Dundalk, this race looks like the ideal stepping stone for another fruitful campaign on the all-weather.
SHOOT TO KILL – 1-point each-way@9-2