DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27
2.00 CURRAGH
As is often the case in many of these sprint handicaps, quite a few closely matched based on their previous encounters and The Bold Lad Handicap run here two weeks ago might prove to be the key form line when it comes to deciphering today’s similar contest.
In a messy race that produced a blanket finish, several in behind the main players were not seen to best effect and SARAHMAE (best price 16-1), one of the chief sufferers, can prove her morning odds are way out of line with some of her old rivals.
In keeping with many sprints run over the straight course at the Kildare venue, the large field converged over towards the nearside fence and, as a result, room was at a premium for many inside the final two furlongs.
Unfortunately, Denis Hogan’s filly was one of several who got no run whatsoever at the business end although it was impossible to guess where she would have finished, it is easy to conclude she would have had a say in the outcome.
Finishing full of running without knowing she had a race, she heads back to the scene of her previous success over the C&D that allowed her to account for the likes of Keke, Kendall Roy, Greek Flower and Harry’s Hill and given that those four mentioned are all shorter in the betting, it makes it more crazy how she has been chalked up the outsider of the quintet.
SARAHMAE – ½ point each-way@16-1 (four places)
3.40 NEWMARKET
An unusually small field for one of the biggest handicaps of the season but that doesn’t necessarily make finding the winner any easier.
That said, backing unexposed three-year-olds in recent times hasn’t been a bad strategy and of this year’s crop, FORT GEORGE (best price 7-1) might easily turn out to be the pick.
Gelded following three placed efforts as a two-year-old, Ed Walker’s inmate made an immediate impact post surgery when landing a competitive affair on handicap debut over today’s course back in April and since then, his three runs have all suggest he remains on an upward trajectory.
His display in a big-field handicap at Glorious Goodwood deserved upgrading on account of how far back he was at halfway and under a more positive ride at Newbury last time out, he powered his way clear of four progressive rivals, in turn, clocking a big speed figure.
Set aside for a tilt at this prize since, he arrives here in peak form and with the likelihood of a strongly run 1m1f contest being right up his street, the son of Territories can execute the plan.
EBT’S GUARD has run well in many big-field handicaps in recent times and his latest effort at Ascot is testimony to that view.
Although he proved no match for Shout in the final analysis, the four-year-old travelled as well as anything until the soft ground took its toll on him late on but at least he still performed well enough to earn a big speed figure.
Even quicker on the times according to his victory at the Berkshire venue earlier in the season, both races have worked out well since and having finished a creditable sixth in this race last year, he arrives back here in better form in his bid to better than finishing position.
FORT GEORGE – 1-point each-way@7-1 (six places)
EBT’S GUARD – ½ point each-way@22-1 (six places)
3.45 CURRAGH
The fourth running of this valuable prize and with the last two dominated by those drawn high, Composing may have more on her plate than her form suggests over in box 7.
There is also, arguably more fancied horses and pace positioned towards the nearside fence and the one who makes the most appeal at the morning price is TAKE CHARGE STAR (best price 8-1).
Johnny Murtagh’s colt was a massive eye-catcher over today’s C&D on debut, leaving the impression he would have easily but for meeting trouble in running, and he duly backed up that view when making no mistake at Gowran next time.
The decision made by Ben Coen through the early exchanges to take his mount out of the battle for the lead paid off at the business end, but either way, the turn of foot the son of Starspangledbanner showed when called upon was the most impressive part of his performance.
Posting a useful speed figure into the bargain, he now heads back to familiar surroundings and with most firms offering generous place terms, it would a surprise if this promising colt doesn’t fill one of them.
TAKE CHARGE STAR – 1-point each-way@8-1
5.00 HAYDOCK
JUNGLE KNIGHT (best price 9-1) showed up prominently in a useful nursery over today’s C&D last time out and a repeat of something similar can see Mark Rimell’s inmate take another step forward towards breaking his duck.
Steadied at the start from his wide draw, the strong early pace meant he was detached from the main pack turning for home and from that point it was a question of how much respectability could he gain out of the back end of the race.
In fairness to the son of Bungle Inthejungle, he made a decent job of cutting back the deficit and given the way he was keeping on at the line, a better early track position may have seen him as a more significant factor.
Even though he only finished fifth of 8, he still posted a speed figure that puts him on top of today’s pile and with the form already beginning to work out as well as anticipated with fourth home, Luzon Heights, scoring at Southwell in midweek, confidence is reasonably high this fella can tread a similar path.
JUNGLE KNIGHT – ½ point each-way@9-1