DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 24
3.00 GOODWOOD
David O’Meara has a strong hand in this mile handicap and CERULEAN BAY (best price 13-2) receives the percentage call at the morning prices over track specialist Rhoscolyn.
The four-year-old has gradually worked himself into peak form and his last two starts indicate he is ready to strike.
His run when chasing the ever-consistent Ebt’s Guard home at Ascot two starts ago was backed up by a very fast time and there was nothing wrong with his effort in filling out the same position behind Bullet Point at York’s Ebor meeting.
Yet to race on soft ground this season, it is worth noting he has run extremely well under those conditions on several occasions in the past and it would be a surprise if he wasn’t involved on recent evidence.
CERULEAN BAY – 1-point each-way@13-2
4.03 REDCAR
TITIAN (best price 6-1) could never work himself into a challenging position after missing the break at Beverley last time out, but he makes more appeal on account of today’s softer ground and more favourable/conventional track.
Prior to that virtual no show at the Yorkshire venue, Julie Camacho’s inmate had run a similar race at Haydock, and he is better judged on his previous victory at York, when he once again came from well off the pace to score with a degree of comfort.
Produced to a nicety on the Knavesmire, hope lies in the hands of today’s pilot delivering him with a similarly well-timed challenge and at a track where he has gone well on his two previous visits, there is a decent chance that scenario will play out.
TITIAN – 1-point each-way@
4.23 LISTOWEL
A contest where a significant pattern has developed over the years, favouring those either leading or racing prominently throughout and THREE CARD BRAG |(best price 7-1), who fits the profile of many of the previous winners, rates a strong choice to follow in the footsteps of the stable’s Potters Point and Wrath Of Titans in recent times.
Not a definitive trail blazer by any stretch of the imagination, he does, however, like to race up with the pace and he never got any chance to do so in the Galway Plate last time out due to one of those dreaded standing starts.
Considering Gordon Elliott’s inmate virtually stood still and gave the large field a significant advantage in the early stages (last jumping the first), to finish a respectable eighth was fair effort under the circumstances and although not an ideal prep by any means, it was a run that will put a nice edge on his fitness levels coming here.
A horse good enough to finish third in a Grade 1 behind Spillane’s Tower on just his third start over fences, he ran well for a long way at the head of affairs until tiring from two out in last year’s Grand National and providing he jumps off on terms and works himself into a decent early position, the son of Jet Away has the class to take a race of this nature.
THREE CARD BRAG – 1-point each-way@7-1 (five places)
4.45 GOODWOOD
Finalise is the equine version of Aryana Sabalenka, tall, elegant and with plenty of power and she has left the impression in her three starts so far to date, she could easily be way better than her opening mark of 84.
Last time out at Kempton, for instance, she oozed class and left her field for dead in the latter stages and the data backed up the visual impression of her display.
The only question mark arises from today’s ground and whether she can run to maximum capacity and because of that slight doubt, she is passed over in favour of SIMPLY RUBY (best price 9-1), who has no such issues.
Ed Walker’s inmate doesn’t have as much scope as the market leader, but she does have proven form under testing conditions, and she also looks ready for a step up in trip.
Although she kept on well enough at Bath last time out, she didn’t have the pace to maintain her effort against two who found extra reserves off the back of a very strongly run affair but at least she came out of the contest with a massive career high on the figures.
In the form of her life based on the data she produced three weeks ago, another big run is anticipated off this dangerous floater right at the foot of the weights.
SIMPLY RUBY – ½ point each-way@9-1