DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY JULY 23
2.55 SANDOWN
At first glance, once-raced maiden GREY TAMAN may seem an audacious entry in this listed affair, but the speed figure she achieved in defeat on her debut at Nottingham suggests connections might not be that wide of the mark and she rates the value option at the prices to back up that stance.
The daughter of Churchill was just a step slow out of the gates at the Midland venue and heading passed the halfway point, she still had more in front than behind.
However, she picked up quite takingly in the closing stages to finish a never-nearer third and with the runner-up, Nicely, providing an immediate boost for the form at Hamilton last week, the first impression that the winner, Ash Tree, is a pattern filly, gathers even more traction.
Based on the evidence of what was witnessed 21 days ago, a step up to seven furlongs seems likely to play more into her strengths and she could easily turn out to be the surprise package representing last season’s winning stable.
GREY TAMAN – ½ point each-way@12-1
3.10 DONCASTER
Several with claims in this intriguing nursery and TEN CLARETS gets the nod if the data from his recent effort at Ayr is a solid guide.
Karl Burke’s inmate had shaped nicely on his debut behind subsequent pattern winer, Inner City Blues, and although he was well backed to make a big step forward at the Scottish venue, he ended up finding one too good in the shape of the positively ridden, Redline.
Despite his unexpected defeat, however, he still came out of the race 17 days ago with a very good speed figure for his troubles and with today’s more conventional, straight track likely to be more suitable for this sizeable colt, the son of Ten Sovereigns can make it third time lucky.
TEN CLARETS – 1-point win@15-8