DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY JUNE 8
6.39 WINDSOR
ATLAS MOUNTAIN has twice left the impression this season he is a horse of some promise, and those beliefs look set to come home to roost in a novice event that doesn’t contain too many holding their hands up to claim the prize.
A big eye-catcher in a Newbury maiden back in April that has produced numerous subsequent winners, Alan King’s gelding went to Nottingham last time out with no strong expectations in a similar contest but despite his 20-1 starting price, he ran way above his station to finish a creditable third.
Considering his position at halfway, he did extremely well to make up ground on several highly regarded types and in hitting the line strongest of all, he offered up plenty of hope for the future.
Based on the way he has shaped in both races, he probably could do with further than today’s trip to excel but working on the theory he is likely to be handier in a race containing quite a lot of deadwood, he might just prove good enough to get away with it on this occasion.
ATLAS MOUNTAIN – 1-point win@7-2
7.30 PONTEFRACT
ANALOGICAL has often been seen to best effect when allowed to dictate and with the strong possibility Sir Mark Prescott’s gelding can call the tune in this 1m4f handicap, he is fancied to follow up his recent Catterick success.
Sent to the front at the Yorkshire venue 18 days ago, the son of Ulysees set honest fractions to the point when he looked under threat by the smooth travelling Nightsinwhitesatin but to his ultimate credit he rallied under a sympathetic ride from his pilot, Poppy Scott, and he answered every call to edge clear again close home.
Clearly the type to save a bit for himself, he therefore is quite a difficult one to ascertain the extent of his true worth and safe in the knowledge he is proven over today’s track, a repeat of his previous C&D looks on the cards.
ANALOGICAL – 1-point win@15-8