DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY DECEMBER 18
2.30 EXETER
RANGATIRA JACK was never at the races on his seasonal bow at Wincanton a month ago, but the more docile nature of today’s contest is likely to see Linda Blackford’s chestnut more in his comfort zone and at a track where he has excelled before, he is fancied to be more of factor this afternoon.
The seven-year-old was always likely to find himself outpaced around the tight nature of the west country circuit on good ground and true to form, he was flat to the boards from an early stage.
He did, however, keep on noticeably well from three out and considering it was his first run for 210 days, in the end, it wasn’t a bad return from the son of Mount Nelson.
More aggressively ridden when making all the last time he faced today’s C&D back in April, one would like to think he will be asked to adopt similar tactics on his return visit and with plenty of form in the bag on soft ground, he makes plenty of appeal at the morning prices.
RANGATIRA JACK – 1-point each-way@13-2
8.00 CHELMSFORD
UNITED APPROACH hasn’t had the rub of the green in either of his last two starts but he has shown more than enough to suggest he can land a race of this nature, and he receives a reasonably confident vote to back up that view.
On the back foot from an early stage after a tardy beginning at Kempton, Jamie Osbourne’s inmate did well to rescue a small bit of pride with the way he finished off his race in the latter stages, and he might well have won at Wolverhampton on his previous outing but for a similar set of circumstances developing.
Clearly better than the bare results suggest both times, the son of Fastnet Rock needs to buck his ideas up stalls exit-wise if he is to make amends but, providing he can overcome that obstacle, the ability is there in abundance.
UNITED APPROACH – 1-point each-way@5-1 (four places)
8.30 CHELMSFORD
PARLANDO was never placed to challenge over today’s C&D last time out but all the same, it was still a run to suggest he is nudging back in the right direction, and he is well worth chancing despite being up against several promising, lightly raced three-year-olds.
Ian Williams’ inmate hasn’t always been held up so far back in his career, but it has been noticeable those tactics have very much been the order of the day on his last two starts back on the all-weather.
At the Essex venue 21 days ago, the six-year-old had more in front than behind him for majority of the 1m2f journey but he did pick up nicely when let off the leash in the home straight and his never-nearer fifth was rewarded with a very useful speed figure.
The fact he was the only one of the closers to make up ground over towards the far side of the track made his effort even more upgradable and he sets the standard for the rest to match based on the data from that display.
PARLANDO – 1-point each-way@5-1