DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
TUESDAY JUNE 9
6.30 SLIGO
LILAC LADY is still searching for that illusive breakthrough win and although she faces no easy task up against a short-priced Willie Mullins-trained individual, she still comes across as a strong each-way alternative at the morning odds.
Very modest on the Flat, Mark McNiff’s mare has shown much better form over hurdles and her latest effort over today’s C&D at the previous meeting here highlighted the stark differences.
Setting a reasonable gallop from the start, she ultimately failed to contain the useful Hey Now in the closing stakes at the Cleveragh Road track, but the winner might turn out to be quite smart and there was no shame in finishing a creditable second.
Moreover, the overall time and final lap sectionals suggested she had put in a decent shift in her own right and now returning to the scene of that effort, her familiarity with her surroundings will hopefully count for plenty in the final analysis.
LILAC LADY – 1-point each-way@11-2
6.42 CARLISLE
The form of Karl Burke’s two-year-old means Rock Steady Beat is going to be a warm order with the betting fraternity but because he will take up a huge chunk of the market, the value might lie elsewhere at the feet of SYDNEY GRACE.
Like the favourite, Charlie Fellows’ inmate failed to trouble the judge on debut but there was a lot to like about the way she finished off her race after getting away to a slow beginning and being a good deal off the pace at halfway.
However, the way she charged through the line without being subjected to a hard ride was encouraging and with just normal improvement, the daughter of Minzaal can take much higher rank at the second time of asking.
SYDNEY GRACE – 1-point each-way@9-2