DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY JUNE 13
2.35 DOWN ROYAL
FOREVER AND A DAY has indicated more than once that she has the necessary requirements to win a race and even though she arrives here on the back of a slightly below-par effort, she is still worth another chance to finally make the breakthrough.
Peter Maher’s mare went well enough for a long way at Wexford 17 days ago, but once she straightened up for home, she hit the wall on the rain-softened ground and she ended up finishing a long way behind the all-the-way scorer, Karlynn, who wasn’t winning out of turn.
Cast that run aside and concentrate on her performance at Down Royal previously and she has much brighter prospects, as she was the only one to offer any resistance to the very useful mare, Miss Doyenne, in a keenly contested, well-run novices hurdle.
Considering the winner has gone on to score since and is rated 122, the daughter of Eliot has no excuses for not being competitive on handicap debut off a mark of 96 and she deserves to be played accordingly at her morning odds.
FOREVER AND A DAY – ½ point each-way@16-1 (four places)
2.10 CHESTER
JEDDAAL did exceptionally well under the circumstances to salvage something from the wreckage at Haydock last time out and Ed Walker’s gelding can make amends if events pan out a shade more favourably this time around.
The son of Lope de Vega made a bright start to the campaign with a stylish win at Catterick – like today’s track in many ways – but he came unstuck in a big way when visiting the Merseyside venue a month later.
Missing the break slightly, he soon found himself in an unpromising position turning for home and despite doing his level best to make inroads into the main players late on, he couldn’t quite gain the result he and his legion of supporters desired (well backed from 3-1 into 13-8).
On the evidence of that unlucky display, he clearly remains of significant interest off his current mark and having missed his most recent engagement in the Silver Bowl at Haydock, coming here for today’s contest, which is easier on paper, might turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
JEDDAAL – 1-point win@10-3
3.40 HEXHAM
PERSEUS WAY has struck a rich vein of form under both codes of late, and he rates a strong choice to follow up his C&D victory two starts ago.
The seven-year-old had showed bright promise on his first start for current connections at the Borders venue and upped in trip on his return visit, he duly found the necessary improvement to score with a bit in hand.
A fair way off the pace heading down the back straight, Tristan Davison’s inmate readily cut down the long-time leader, Sunset Hill (today’s main danger), on the run uphill the last and despite making a mistake and losing a bit of momentum, he soon regained his equilibrium to maintain his advantage.
Taking full advantage of what appeared a lenient handicap mark back on the flat at Hamilton since, the son of Sea The Stars still looks very well treated even off his revised rating and with a strong pace extremely likely, he can complete the hat trick.
PERSEUS WAY – 1-point win@10-3
3.55 SANDOWN
STICKTOYOURGUNS hasn’t been seen out since a beaten favourite in a novice event under a penalty at Newbury last September but providing everything is in full working order for his return to the fray, Owen Burrows’ colt could be well worth the wait.
The son of Without Parole created a favourable impression on his racecourse debut by following in the footsteps of his sire, winning at the Esher venue in taking style, and following on from that taking success, he was quite rightly expected to repeat the dose at Newbury on his next start.
Unfortunately, he didn’t quite live up to his star billing at the Berkshire venue but the conditions on the day were vile and you can forgive any horse not running to his best in rain softened ground and a howling wind.
Picking up an injury in the interim, we haven’t seen him out since, but the reports have been good from the camp on his return to the ray and an opening mark of 87 looks perfectly exploitable if he ends up being anywhere near as good as his old man (rated 119 at his peak).
STICKTOYOURGUNS – 1-point win@10-3
9.00 LEICESTER
BLUE WONDER and Lesrico pulled well clear of their rivals when 1-2 in a competitive handicap at Haydock last time out and with the speed figure strongly hinting the pair ran way behind the normal expectations of horses rated in the mid 60’s, they should turn out to be the dominant forces in this similar affair.
Hughie Morrison’s filly had indicated of brighter days ahead when an encouraging fourth on the all-weather previously but her display at the Merseyside venue was nothing short of a revelation and to only get bumped up marginally in the ratings is a surprise when you analyse the post-race data.
Furlong-per-furlong, only just coming up slightly shorter of the figures produced by the listed sprint winner Rosy Affair on the same card, the daughter of Blue Point should have no trouble repeating the dose if she can translate her form shown to a different track.
BLUE WONDER – 1-point win@7-2