DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY DECEMBER 28
1.55 LEOPARDSTOWN
Gordon Elliott has been having a beano for quite some time now and the Co Meath handler looks to have a strong here with THE YELLOW CLAY and Teahupoo, with the former gaining the slight vote on account of being the better value option.
The first thing to say he was terribly disappointing last time out but the ground at Navan was desperate, and he may have needed the run – following a 199-day break – more than connections anticipated.
Obviously, he is going to need to find improvement to compete at the highest level again, but better ground will suit and a step up to three miles might end up being the making of him.
Either way, his performance in the Turners last season when splitting The New Lion and Final Demand remains top class form and he could easily turn out to be the surprise package with man-of-the-moment, Sam Ewing, on board
THE YELLOW CLAY – 1-point each-way@13-2
2.50 LIMERICK
It is the classic case of the old saying “if you can’t beat em, join em” as far as the Gordon Elliott stable is concerned at present and GRIMAUD has bright claims of being another winner for the Cullentra House maestro.
The five-year-old has just managed to register the one win in 11 starts but his two performances this season in red-hot handicaps have suggested he might be ready to change the needle in the short term.
The son of Zoffany chased home the well-treated Paddy’s Milestone in the competitive Tara Handicap at Navan on his return to action a month ago and despite not managing to better than finishing position when returning to the same track last time out, he once again kept on well late on to pick up the pieces of the placed prize money.
Taking a distinct drop down in class here today, three miles on heavy ground holds no barrier to success and all roads lead towards another positive result.
GRIMAUD – 1/2 point each-way@7-1 (five places)
3.05 LEOPARDSTOWN
MILLSTREAM LADY has already qualified for the final of this series so hopefully she should be allowed run on her merits, and the form of her latest encounter looks good enough for her to be a factor if repeating.
Eric McNamara’s mare couldn’t quite get to grips with the bang-in-form Staffordshire Knot at Punchestown last time out, but her performance was still a decent one under the circumstances of where he was at halfway and the speed figure posted in defeat was also very useful.
Prior to that career high on the numbers, the seven-year-old lowered the colours of several smart mares, notably World Of Fortune, at Limerick and that is twice now she has proven she stays three miles well.
Although she handles testing ground, today’s better surface is far more suitable and with a crack conditional jockey booked, she makes plenty of appeal at the morning odds.
MILLSTREAM LADY – ½ point each-way@16-1 (five places)
3.40 LEOPARDSTOWN
CITY OF CORK shaped better than the bare result suggested at Navan on his racecourse debut and Joseph O’Brien’s inmate is expected to find the necessary steps to make more of an impact with that initial run under his belt.
The son of Westerner’s opening gambit came over hurdles and although he failed to trouble the principles, he fared best of those held up well off the pace in a slowly run affair.
Based on his promising effort at the Meath venue, he clearly has an engine and with connections seemingly happy with allowing him to use his ability without the issue of any hurdles in the way, the four-year-old looks one of the leading candidates in a bumper that probably isn’t the strongest by the track standards.
CITY OF CORK – 1-point win@7-2