DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY DECEMBER 1
2.35 PLUMPTON
BELIEVEITANDUCAN (best price 4-1) shaped well until getting a bit tired in the latter stages of his latest encounter at Newbury and having likely to have derived plenty of benefit from that initial outing, Alan King’s gelding has every chance of going one place better in this less competitive environment.
Having his first outing for 199 days at the Berkshire venue, the four-year-old didn’t lack for sharpness as he moved smoothly through the first part of the two-mile journey but just when he was asked to go through his paces towards the business end, he eventually ran out of puff against race-fit rival, Bowmore.
Ultimately beaten five lengths, he still managed to post a useful speed figure, and it was a performance that went a long way to suggest there are plenty more races to be won with him this season.
A winner over two-miles on the Flat and 2m2f over hurdles, today’s step up in trip is likely to see him in a better light and he rates the value alternative to four-timer seeking Jackstell, who must prove himself in this higher grade.
BELIEVEITANDUCAN – 1-point win@4-1
8.00 WOLVERHAMPTON
THE DARK BARON (NAP) (best price 11-10) was full value for his C&D success on his first start on the all-weather last time out and there appears no obvious reason why he will not go well again on his return to the Dunstall Park venue.
Posted out in the coffin 13 box (of 13) here 37 days ago, the son of Dark Angel was hard ridden to get over to race handy in the early stages and one would have thought those aggressive tactics would take a toll at the business.
Against all conventional wisdom, Kathy Turner’s gelding ended up finding even more reserves when called upon once hitting the front turning for home and his two-and-a-half length victory in no way flattered his superiority.
Much better housed in stall 6 here this evening, the three-year-old should be able to conserve energy in the early part of the race this time around and, in theory, he should be just as strong when it matters most.
THE DARK BARON – 2-points win@11-10
