DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY JANUARY 23
1.27 WOLVERHAMPTON
You couldn’t be described as being a bit cuckoo for following R P McMurphy in recent times and there is a good chance of being rewarded again with Michael Appleby’s inmate here this afternoon.
Admittedly, today’s contest is a much deeper race on paper than the one he claimed here 11 days ago, but his winning effort was backed up by a terrific speed figure for the grade and the runner-up, How’s The Guvnor, proved the value of the form to be reliable with a win at Southwell the other day.
Prior to that career high, the son of Expert Eye had got beaten off a mark of 55 twice which, given his latest exploits, is a bit a surprise, but with one of them coming away from today’s venue and the other all boiling down to a slow start and poor early track position, excuses are a little more valid than at first glance.
To all intents and purposes, the four-year-old should be 3-3 over today’s C&D and with a cleaner break than sometimes can be the case, he can take this step up in grade in his stride.
R P MCMURPHY – 1-point win@5-2
7.15 SOUTHWELL
MAGIC STONE left the impression he may have gone close to winning at Wolverhampton last time with a smoother passage and despite the drop back in trip today being a small cause for concern, William Haggas’ colt is fancied to back up that view.
Poorly positioned and slightly niggled along coming out of the back straight in a five-runner field at the Dunstall Park circuit, the three-year-old came back on the bridle soon after, but just when his momentum looked like carrying him into the heat of battle, he had the door slammed in his face by a rival dropping back in his lap.
Unable to regather his stride in sufficient time, the son of Acclamation ended up having to take his medicine but given the way he hit the line, he looked as though he had a good deal more to give.
Yet to race over the minimum trip, there’s a good chance he will be out of his comfort zone during the first part of the race, but providing he can stay in touch, hope is high he can make up the deficit where it matters most.
MAGIC STONE- 1-point win@11-4