DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 21
1.06 FAIRYHOUSE
Some nice prospects on show for this beginners’ chase but arguably FLICKER OF HOPE (BEST PRICE 10-1)) carries one of the strongest pieces of form lines to the table and he looks overpriced to build on that initial promising start over fences.
Beginning his new vocation at Wexford 15 days ago, the son of Buck’s Boum faced a baptism of fire up against the likes of Fleur In The Park and Tullyhill but despite the pace being extremely strong and the trip a bare minimum for his requirements, he still managed to keep on well to finish a respectable distance behind the two main players.
More renowned for his exploits over further as a hurdler last season (won over three miles), working his way through the ranks from 107 to 132, some of his most notable efforts came when the mud was flying, so the combination of 2m4f and heavy ground here today should see Mark Fahey’s inmate in a much better light.
FLICKER OF HOPE – ½ point each-way@10-1
1.15 CATTERICK
HEATHER HONEY (best price 3-1) proved to be a bit of a disappointing favourite at Aintree on her latest outing but as the time figure was very good and we have already seen the form work out well accordingly, Joe Parkinson & Sue Smith’s inmate might be worth another chance in this lower grade.
A massive improver when raised in distance last season, winning three times in a space of two months, she still shaped as though she is on the rusty side at the Merseyside venue and, in keeping with her yard form at the time, will do better as the campaign progresses.
That said, she probably wasn’t given the cleverest of rides a month ago, going around the inside when the better ground was out wide and as we saw at Cheltenham last week, Kikijo was seen in a much better light next time having been ridden in a similar fashion in the same race.
Competitive though today’s race is, it looks decidedly weaker than the one she faced last time and with her yard now operating at a much better rate in the last month, she is fancied to add to the seven in the last fortnight.
HEATHER HONEY – 1-point win@3-1
2.35 ASCPT
MOVEIT LIKE MINNIE (NAP) (best price 7-2) did well on the face of it to finish a close-up third to two thoroughly progressive handicappers here last time out and even though he is one of the most exposed runners in the field, he can hopefully put his track form to good use.
Back over hurdles this season after downing tools several times over fences, the eight-year-old kicked off his campaign with an excellent effort at Chepstow and he clearly built on that effort based on the data at the Berkshire venue a few weeks later, only finding Alexei and Indemnity too good.
Considering the winner went on to make mincemeat of the opposition in the Greatwood last weekend, his performance needs upgrading and he sets the benchmark for the other to match using that display as a guide.
MOVEIT LIKE MINNIE – 1-point win@7-2