DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 15
3.05 PUNCHESTOWN
AVALO (best price 5-1) has put together a series of fine results of late without getting his due rewards but under optimum conditions, Peter Fahey’s gelding has a golden opportunity to finally have his day in the sun.
Since finishing a creditable runner-up to subsequent winner, Cappa Hill, at Cork back in August, the six-year-old has cut a rather frustrating figure, summed up by his unlucky loss at Down Royal next time (badly hampered at the first).
On his last two starts, the ground wouldn’t have entirely to his liking but despite this negative, he has still performed to a decent level, most notably in a big-field, competitive handicap at Listowel last month.
Proving conclusively, he is just as effective over 2m4f at the Kerry venue, he now has genuine good ground to bounce off, and he is fancied to provide local connections with a change of fortunes.
AVALO – 1-point each-way@5-1 (four places)
3.44 NOTTINGHAM
ROCK N ROLL PINKIE (best price 4-1), due to a lack of pace, wasn’t seen to best advantage here last time out but events should turn out to be more in her favour on her return visit and, at a track where her form figures read, 51621513, Ivan Furtado’s inmate is fancied to add to those fine stats.
In what turned out to be a tactical affair for the final of the grass root series for stayers’ the five-year-old mare was understandably outpaced when the dash for the line begun three furlongs for home and even though she was well positioned at that juncture, her failure to quicken as well as Expressionless and Corsican Caper proved to be the difference.
However, she did keep on well to finish a close-up third, suggesting she remains in the sort of form that allowed her to score twice at York in mid-summer.
An eighth length winner over today’s course earlier in the campaign, a return to two miles at her favourite venue is an obvious plus and with Mighty Bandit and Senor Cortez in the field, there should be no excuses regards to the pace not being generous enough.
ROCK N ROLL PINKIE – 1-point win@4-1