DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MAY 22
3.07 GOODWOOD
Give It To Me OJ could easily prove to be still ahead of his mark on his return to the Flat, but he lacks a recent run, and preference is for ST MAWES, who arrives here following a career high on the figures over today’s C&D.
Although only third at the Sussex venue, he did well to finish as close as he did if you consider where he was turning for home and with that solid effort coming off a 199-day break, his performance deserves upgrading.
A previous dual winner since fitted with the visor, all roads lead to Emma Lavelle’s gelding putting in another solid shift on his return visit.
ST MAWES – 1-point win@9-4
4.17 GOODWOOD
NAQEEB shaped well for a long way in a quality listed contest on his seasonal bow at Ascot three weeks ago and with that all-important run hopefully working its magic for Julie Camacho’s gelding, he can add to his fine record at today’s track.
Racing at a trip short of his best at the Berkshire venue, the five-year-old helped force a decent gallop through the early exchanges and although he eventually succumbed to several pacier rivals late on, he still hung tough to finish a creditable and close-up fifth.
A shock winner over today’s C&D on his final outing of last term, he showed battling qualities to fend off the likes of Ancient Wisdom and Saddadd, and as we have seen with the latter already this season, Roger Varian’s inmate is edging towards being a Group 1 performer.
On the evidence on that sterling effort and his previous runner-up spot in a red-hot handicap over the same C&D, he clearly enjoys the contours of the Sussex venue and with his optimum conditions in place again (good-to-soft ground), Naqeeb looks to have been seriously underestimated.
NAQEEB – ½ point each-way@12-1
20.41 WORCESTER
The race won by Spartan Times at Uttoxeter was noted for its very strong speed figure for the grade and the two who represent that form here tonight, PLAYFUL FOX and Saccary looks set to dominate this concluding handicap if the data is a good guide.
As events panned out, Saccary only just narrowly lost out in a driving finish but had his old rival not suffered bad interference at the first in the back straight, things may have turned out a little different.
Almost brought down when a horse fell directly in his path at that juncture, Dan Skelton’s gelding did extremely well just to work himself got into contention after losing valuable ground and momentum and although he was probably a busted flush when he unseated rider two out, he clearly is better than the bare facts suggest.
Despite the consensus Playful Fox was slightly unlucky, it has been a surprise to see the overnight market shift heavily in favour of Saccary (3-1 into current price of 11-8) but that means the son of Hunter’s Light has become by some margin the value pick of the pair and he should make a bold bid to follow in the footsteps of Genbu, who won the other day having finished third at the Midland venue 20 days prior.
PLAYFUL FOX – 1-point win@10-3