DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28
12.45 NEWBURY
A cracking novices handicap in prospect but if it all boils down to jumping, BLUEY’s (best price 9-2) technique may prove the determining factor.
It is probably fair to say she didn’t quite realise her full potential over hurdles, despite winning twice, but on the evidence of her opening gambit over fences at Kempton a month ago, this could well be her game.
Setting out with a fair amount of intention at the Sunbury venue, Emma Lavelle’s inmate soon got into a beautiful rhythm in front and at no stage did she ever look like relinquishing her advantage.
Scoring a jump index of 8.0 and gaining over 8 lengths on the rest of the field that day, one would expect Gavin Sheehan to make full use of her skills in that department at a track that rewards good jumping, and she looks overpriced on all known metrics.
BLUEY – 1-point win@9-2
1.15 NEWBURY
TRALEE GIRL (best price 6-1) shaped with a huge amount of promise on her hurdling debut at Wetherby and with the form of that race as good as anything on offer in today’s field, another positive display should be forthcoming from Dan Skelton’s filly.
Up against several with useful form on the board heading into the race at the Yorkshire venue, her task amplified as she lost her place heading out of the back straight, but to her great credit, she picked up nicely in the latter stages to finish a never-nearer third.
Admittedly, it might not have been the greatest Wenselydale ever run but the speed figure was good for a race of its kind, and one would imagine she will only improve from that initial outing from a yard still churning out winners at a very healthy rate.
TRALEE GIRL – 1-point each-way@6-1 (four places)
1.50 NEWBURY
NO QUESTIONS ASKED (best price 9-2) really impressed when making a smooth transition to fences at Ascot last month and he looks set to justify this step up in class.
Ben Pauling has already unleashed several useful novice chasers among the ranks so far this season and this guy was arguably the most impressive, jumping soundly at the Berkshire venue before readily brushing aside the useful, Viroflay, who made it a proper test from the start.
Indeed, the economy of effort he exhibited over his fences was enough to see him score highly on the jump index and on the evidence of that display, we know he can operate to a high level at speed.
Good enough to finish half-a-length second to Califet En Voi in the listed Sydney Banks at Huntingdon last season, his form over hurdles suggests he isn’t too far behind the likes of Regent’s Stroll and Wendigo but with fences likely to continue to bring about further improvement, the son of Ask can scale even greater heights – starting here today.
NO QUESTIONS ASKED – 1-point win@9-2