DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MAY 29
4.40 CHEPSTOW
QUISANA ran a race full of promise on her debut at Windsor and she looks the one blessed with the most natural talent to trouble favourite, Food For Thought.
Due to the sedate early pace at the Berkshire track, Eve Johnston Hiughton’s filly was a little too keen for her own good in the first half a mile but despite wasting valuable energy she could ill afford to expend, she kept on well to finish a creditable fourth.
Sent off 40-1 and from a stable not associated with first-time-out three-year-old maiden winners, one can expect a big improvement from that initial outing and providing she turns out to be a little more amenable to restraint this time around, the daughter of Ghaiyyath has the necessary requirements to take a big step forward.
QUNISANA – 1-point win@7-2
6.40 WOLVERHAMPTON
Some nice fillies on show in this novice event for the fairer sex and despite being the outsider of the field, MOONLIT SURF has shown enough so far to date to easily outrun her odds.
Like Quisana over at Chepstow today, Owen Burrows’ inmate caught the eye in the race won by Cap Santa Lucia and her final position could have easily been bettered had she received a smoother passage in the latter stages.
This being her third run, however, there is always a possibility those connected to the daughter of Oasis Dream will be dead set on prioritising her handicap mark over anything else but if she is allowed to run on her merits, the applecart is in danger of being upset (a saying right up there with don’t try and teach your Grandma how to suck eggs).
MOONLIT SURF – ½ point win@20-1
7.50 WOLVERHAMPTON
The sprint handicap won by Secret Santa at Ascot earlier in the month was noted for a very strong time figure and DUBLIN BAY and NIGHT MISSION are taken against the field to continue to fly the flag for the form with distinction (fourth won since).
The former not only came out marginally best of the pair at the Berkshire venue, but he was also the best placed of those drawn high, a performance therefore, which needs upgrading.
Add to the fact he was racing over a trip short of his best and he return to a C&D that witnessed him make all the running on his previous start, there is every reason to feel upbeat about his prospects.
The latter also did well under the circumstances 21 days ago, being forced to switch out into the unfavourable part of the track at the business end which ultimately cost him having a major bearing on the result.
If taking the view he rates much better than the bare result and, will be better suited to tonight’s surface rather than the deep terrain he encountered at Kempton two starts ago, Mark Rimell’s gelding looks unjustifiably overpriced.
DUBLIN BAY – 1-point win@3-1
NIGHT MISSION – ½ point win@9-1