DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
TUESDAY MARCH 17
2.28 DOWN ROYAL
Another maximum field for division one of the extended 2m4f handicap hurdle but there is a good chance ASWELLASABENTLEY will prove a cut above the rest if he takes the expected step forward from his sound effort here last time out.
Disappointing over the same C&D the time before, Gavin Cromwell’s inmate was on a recovery mission on his return visit a month later and there is a strong possibility he would have made the ultimate bounce back had he not met interference at the final flight.
Quite why jockey Keith Donoughue decided to challenge in between rivals either side of him approaching the final flight only he can explain, but the way he finished off his race after being forced to check and switch out wide on the run-in suggested he would have won with a clearer passage.
Obviously, he has got to prove he can operate over today’s extra yardage but given the way he stayed on here last time points towards him doing so and with his yard in better form than it was at the time, the son of Walk In The Park is worth a stab.
ASWELLASABENTLEY – 1-point win@9-2
2.55 EXETER
ETON MESS may have got beaten at short odds at Ffos Las last time out, but any horse can be forgiven for not handling the Welsh venue’s bottomless conditions and he is afforded another chance to regain the winning theme back on a better surface.
Sent off 11-10 to complete a hat trick, David Pipe’s inmate looked like he might prevail on the run to two out but unlike his previous two performances, he didn’t quite see his race out as well as he might and he ended up fading into third.
Prior to the son of Expert Eye being an instant hit in handicaps, he had run an eye-catching race behind subsequent Albert Bartlett winner, Johnny’s Jury, over today’s course and considering how well he handled the better ground that day, hope is high he can do so again on his return visit.
ETON MESS – 1-point win@9-2