DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY FEBRUARY 12
1.40 TAUNTON
FIVE BAR GATE is no superstar, but today’s race represents a decent opportunity for him at a low level to make a breakthrough over hurdles and his run here last time out instils plenty of confidence he won’t miss the mark.
The fact this previous bumper winner was sent off 14-1 to win a maiden hurdle over the C&D a month ago suggested it was fair race of its kind and so it proved, with the 123-rated Harbour Island getting the better of Kilwaughter (rated 117).
Although he failed to live with the main players in the final half a mile at the west country track, he kept on well enough to finish a close-up fifth and the speed figure the race produced revealed he had run to a useful level in defeat.
The most encouraging aspect of his performance was his jumping, as other than diving slightly at the second, he was very accurate over his obstacles.
Looking back at his victory at Plumpton previously, the way he ground out a result under testing conditions suggests he shouldn’t have too many issues on today’s heavy ground and with doubts hanging over the likes of Leader Crik (returns off wind surgery) and Innamorato (beaten 24 lengths in a bad race on soft ground last time out), it might well be that it is only the unexposed Mariole that stands in his way.
FIVE BAR GATE – 2-point win@9-4
3.25 TAUNTON
CONSTELLATION WALK has shown more than his fair share of ability in some hot maiden hurdles and, having been a handed a mark that appears more than workable, a chance is taken on Harry Fry’s coming up trumps in this discipline at the first time of asking.
Half the problem with the son of Walk In The Park so far has been his propensity to race keenly and, as a result, he has been ridden miles out of his ground in a bid to try and get him to settle.
However, his mid-race sectionals in making up the lost deficit in races won by the likes of Act Of Innocence, Hurricane Pat and Swinging Safari suggests he has a decent engine, and it is just a case of harnessing it in the right direction.
Providing they go a decent gallop, and that should be the case with Jack Hyde in the field, the unexposed six-year-old will hopefully get the race run in his favour.
CONSTELLATION WALK – 1-point each-way@8-1