DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY JUNE 28
3.02 CARTMEL
NAKASSAMA represents a yard that does really well with the horse they send over the Irish Sea and this journey should prove a worthwhile trek for Noel Kelly’s inmate based on his recent victory at Down Royal.
The slopes of the Co Down venue and today’s tight, left-handed circuit couldn’t be any more contrasting but the son of National Defence comes across as a versatile type who should easily be able to adapt to his new surroundings.
The way he travelled before storming clear up the hill 15 days ago was in the style of a horse right on top of his game and with the data backing up the visual aspect of his display, he rates a confident choice to repeat the dose.
NAKASSAMA – 1-point win@11-4
3.27 UTTOXETER
A typically competitive renewal of this mid-summer handicap chase and the two who make the most appeal are RISKINTHEGROUND and ALIEN STORM.
The former proved he stayed three miles well when capturing a well-run affair at Perth last time out and no doubt this race has been on the agenda for some time from a stable that is renown for being the best target yard in the game.
Unable to cope with the pace of the speedier Glengouley over a shorter trip on his previous outing, Dan Skelton’s inmate will find the rhythm of this three-mile event more to his liking and he brings a touch of class to proceedings.
The latter has always come across as a horse capable of landing a big pot and with conditions to suit, he could easily turn out to be the joker in the pack.
Like Riskintheground, he proved he stayed three miles well in a strongly-run affair at Bangor last time out and his high cruising speed will be an asset in a race likely to be run at a similar tempo.
RISKINTHEGROUND – 1-point win@4-1
ALIEN STORM – ½ point each-way@28-1 (four places)
5.15 CURRAGH
ANTIGUA proved a revelation in the first-time blinker/tongue-tie combo at Fairyhouse last time out and with the same apparatus in pace again, Aidan O’Brien’s inmate can take his game to another level.
Aggressively ridden at the Meath venue, the son of Camelot soon had all his rivals in a world of trouble and in maintaining the strong gallop all the way to the line, he ended up posting a very fast speed figure.
Nicely drawn again here today, another positive ride can reap similar rewards.
ANTIGUA – 1-point each-way@11-2 (five places)
5.45 CURRAGH
MARAZION couldn’t quite make the step up to pattern company count at Cork last time out but she was far from disgraced and now heading back in the direction of handicap company, Jessica Harrington’s filly can prove she remains of some significance in races of this nature.
Prior to her commendable effort last time out, the daughter of Sea The Stars almost overcame a terrible draw over today’s course in a 24-strong field and she is noticeably better off in stall 7 on her return visit.
A long-striding, smooth-traveller, she should be well served dropping back two furlongs and a bigger run than her position in the market suggests looks on the cards.
MARAZION – ½ point each-way@12-1 (five places)