DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY APRIL 16
2.45 LIMERICK
SENSE OF OCCASION has cut his teeth against some pretty useful novices so far this season and now he faces more realistic opponents for the first time, he is worth more than a second look on handicap debut.
Fourth of 23 behind the smart Saint Baco on hurdles debut at Naas back in December, the son of Soldier Of Fortune didn’t fare any better numerically when running in a similar contest over today’s course at the Christmas meeting but given those ahead of him included the likes of Starting Fifteen (rated 136), Star Of The Week (won easily next time), and Laurent D’estruval (ran well in a Grade 1 at Cheltenham), his performance reads much better on paper than it dies at first glance.
Not knocked about when last seen at Down Royal three months ago, he returns to the fold off what appears a workable mark and the fact his best effort on the figures came over today’s C&D makes him a very appealing proposition.
SENSE OF OCCASION – 1-point win@11-4
3.00 NEWMARKET
ARAMRAM has come a long way since chasing home subsequent Group 2 winner More Thunder over today’s C&D this time last year but he continues to improve on recent evidence and he is fancied to thrive again on his return to HQ.
Tackling plenty of battle-hardened sprinters in the Cammidge Trophy at Doncaster on his seasonal bow, Richard Hannon’s gelding showed an extremely likeable attitude to fend off the challenge of Jaseur in the closing stages and the speed figure suggests there was no fluke about the performance.
A horse who has clearly settled down from his formative years when he used to race with the choke out, he now prefers to draft in behind the pace and with the likelihood of a hectic tempo being the order of the day in this Group 3, he can come through at the business end to throw down a potent challenge.
The one most likely to be responsible for doing the heavy lifting early is QUINAULT and it would be wise to keep him onside just in case he gets loose on the lead and stays there.
It must have been quite a difficult choice for yesterday’s man-of-the-moment, Marco Ghiani, to choose between Stuart Williams’ inmate and the progressive Prince Of India, but the ever-smiling Italian has gone with a horse who has a record of 4-4 at HQ over the six-furlong trip.
Moreover, the son of Oasis Dream arrives here in fine shape courtesy of a all-the-way success in Doha and this likeable character should make another bold bid from the front.
ARAMRAM – ½ point win@7-1
QUINAULT – ½ point win@6-1