DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY DECEMBER 4
1.45 SANDOWN
The pressure is very much on No Drama This End to deliver the goods after being hyped up as the second coming at Cheltenham first time out and that provides the Skelton’s with a free hit as far as TORMUND GIANTSBANE (best price 5-1) is concerned.
The form of his Carlisle win on hurdling debut might not have the gravitas of his main market rival’s success but there was still plenty to like about the way he brushed aside his opponents in the latter stages after looking in a spot of bother two out.
Clearly at home under testing conditions at the Cumbrian venue, today’s track should play into his strengths and hailing from a stable that have already had plenty of ‘looks’ at No Drame This End through the likes of Moneygarrow and Keops Des Bordes, this strapping chasing type can keep the ball rolling for the Warwickshire handler.
TORMUND GIANTSBANE – 1-point win@5-1
6.00 DUNDALK
You wouldn’t call DALER (best price 10-3) the sharpest tool in the shed when it comes to exiting the stalls, but he easily has the most ability of tonight’s field and in the hope that he doesn’t leave himself too much to do, Ger Lyons’ inmate gains the tentative vote.
Not for the first time, the son of Dark Angel put himself firmly behind the eight ball with a tardy start here last time and try as he might to retrieve the situation in the latter stages, he basically just ran out of real estate over the seven-furlong trip.
Prior to that notable effort, the three-year-old got off the mark at the first time of asking since being gelded over a furlong further and if he can repeat everything about that run, including the start he made, he can continue his progression through the ranks.
DALER – 1-point win@10-3
8.30 DUNDALK
QUATRE BRAS (NAP) (best price 5-2) is improving at a rapid rate of knots and despite suffering a defeat over today’s C&D starts ago, Richard O’Brien’s inmate is fancied to back up his two wins either side.
When racing over the 1m4f trip for the first time, he rather got caught out by the pedestrian pace but even so, he still made a bold fist of the situation, coming from a long way back to snatch an unlikely runner-up spot late on.
In a similar position turning out of the back straight three weeks ago, the turn of foot he has in his armoury once again came to the fore and providing he is in within striking distance at the same point tonight, he is likely to have too much speed for the likes of Gaucher and Gentleman Joe, who ostensibly two-milers dropping back in trip.
QUATRE BRAS – 1-point win@5-2