DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 2
1.10 CORK
MARY’S PRIDE (best price 6-1) arrives here following a career high performance at Fairyhouse a month ago and providing today’s ground doesn’t deteriorate any further (no rain forecast), Edward Cawley’s mare has a decent chance of making an impact at this level.
Having her first run for 10 months at the Meath venue, the eight-year-old could have been expected to need the run but she certainly didn’t give that impression with the way she stayed on in the closing stages to finish a never-nearer third to two horses who have both gone on to boost the form subsequently.
The winner, Paul’s Dream, would have played a leading role in a Graded contest at Cheltenham last week but for falling two out and runner-up, Red Glory, gained a hard-fought success at Galway next time.
Still remaining on the same mark at she did last time (100), it is worth pointing out she finished fourth the last time she raced over today’s course off rating of 111, and based on all known evidence, she appears to have been underestimated in the market.
MARY’S PRIDE – 1-point each-way@6-1 (four places)
1.55 CURRAGH
MISS NIFTY (best price 13-2) was extremely unlucky not to land a similar prize here last time out and she receives the strong vote to make amends on her return to the same C&D.
Trapped in behind a wall of horses approaching the two-furlong pole, she remained hemmed in until finally obtaining daylight inside the final furlong and once out in the clear, she rattled home to only just narrowly failed to gain the verdict.
Since that agonising defeat, the sixth horse, Skippinandjumpin, has gone on to prove the value of the form and having come from background of races over a mile and beyond in the past, today’s stamina test over this trip looks sure to play into her strengths.
MISS NIFTY – 1-point each-way@13-2 (five places)
3.40 CURRAGH
FLEUR DE CHINE (best price 11-2) bounced back to form in no uncertain terms at Naas last time out and providing the newly-fitted blinkers work for the second time, Jessica Harrington’s filly can follow up against similar opposition.
Towards the rear in the early stages of what turned out to be an extremely strongly run race at the Kildare venue, the four-year-old began to work her way the pack as the field exited the back straight and with a powerful late surge, she engulfed her rivals at the business to end up score going away.
Posting a very smart time figure, she should have regained the confidence she appeared to lose mid-season and with today’s conditions likely to suit her more than most, she rates a confident choice to hit the frame at the very least.
FLEUR DE CHINE – 1-point each-way@11-2 (four places)