DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY JUNE 26
11.30 YARMOUTH
GORGEOUS MR GEORGE added another notch to his Yarmouth bedpost with a stylish victory over the C&D last time out and with the speed figure of his win pointing towards his performance being beyond a horse of his grade, there is no reason to oppose Dylan Cunha’s gelding on his return visit.
The four-year-old had slipped down to a potentially favourable mark prior to arriving at the seaside venue and given a very confident hold-up ride by his apprentice pilot, he came through smoothly to ultimately score going away.
How much he had in hand is difficult to tell, but it is probably fair to say it is more than the mandatory penalty he incurred eight days ago and with conditions likely to be similarly suitable (fast ground), the son of Galileo Gold looks booked to follow up if employing a carbon-copy ride.
GORGEOUS MR GEORGE – 1-point win@7-2
4.50 NEWMARKET
SHALLOW just got worried out of the argument in a busy finish at York last time out and she looks the solution to this six-furlong handicap based on the form/data to hand from that competitive affair.
As is often the case in those sprint handicaps on the Knavesmire, there was no hanging around and for a fleeting moment she looked like justifying good support in her direction until mugged late on by an improving type from the William Knight stable.
Despite her agonising defeat, she came out of the race two weeks ago with a career high speed figure and, having gone well over today’s C&D in the past, including on her most recent visit last summer, Richard Spencer’s mare can continue the general good vibes for her stable (6-22 in last 14 days).
SHALLOW – 1-point win@7-2
7.55 CURRAGH
Today’s course, decent ground and a strong pace seemed to really suit POETIC SOUND when scoring here last time out and despite an extra two furlongs being a slight unknown, Ger Lyon’s inmate is fancied to prove equally effective on his return to the Kildare venue.
Highly regarded as a youngster, he rather lost his way after back-to-back victories earlier in his career but on the evidence of what he witnessed a month ago, the building blocks he has paved for himself come with solid foundations.
His promising third at Leopardstown was clearly a precursor of what was to come and the way he strode out to turn away a competitive field of handicappers over 1m6f last time out was quite impressive and certainly suggested he might stay further.
Although previously disappointing on his only outing beyond two miles, soft ground may have had a big impact in him not staying the trip but seemingly in much better shape that he was back then in any case, the son of Poet’s Word can open plenty of options going forward.
POETIC SOUND – 1-point each-way@11-2 (four places)