DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
WEDNESDAY JULY 29
1.50 GOODWOOD
INFRAAD came across as being an extremely well-treated horse despite being defeated as a short-priced favourite at Chester last time out and he rates a strong choice to back up that view over a more galloping track.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing after the event, but the decision to take this big, powerful colt to the tightest course in the country always had the possibility of flirting with danger and so it proved, with William Haggas’ inmate meeting all the trouble imaginable around the Roodeye.
His chances were compromised by a slow start and once he found himself boxed in behind a wall of horses rounding the home turn, he was going to find life difficult getting his big frame into top gear in time.
However, he hit the line in extremely strong fashion and with his speed figure from his previous victory at Pontefract suggesting he is a useful horse in the making, the combination of both runs points towards the son of Ghaiyyath being the one to beat in terms of pure ability.
The other big time figure horse is Hatteen, courtesy of his Doncaster romp, and it easy to see why he is a big draw with the punters.
INFRAAD – 1-point win@10-3
3.35 GOODWOOD
PERSHAADA ran way beyond market expectations in the Queen Mary last time out and that excellent form, allied to her previous C&D is enough to tip the balance of power in favour of Richard Hannon’s filly.
Always prominent towards the nearside rail at the Berkshire venue, the daughter of Persian Force hung tough all the way to the line to finish a creditable fourth and when you consider she was only beaten half-a-length by subsequent Duke Of Cambridge winner, Senorita Bonita, her performance reads even better than it did on the day.
Obviously, she hasn’t got a massive amount in hand over Crownbreaker, who was breathing down her neck at the Royal meeting but the fact Pershaada has experience of going downhill at today’s track might prove the telling difference between the pair and she receives a confident vote to provide her trainer with another juvenile winner at the meeting, following on from Agrippa here yesterday.
PERSHAADA – 1-point win@3-1
6.40 GALWAY
A typically wide-open Plate with a multitude of permutations on offer but there is every chance WILL THE WISE could be the answer based on his superior form than most of his rivals over this sort of trip – not to mention his solid course record.
Doubtless connections have had this race as a long-term target for the son of Well Chosen ever since he landed the Topham Chase at Aintree back in April and given the way he jumped and travelled that day, he looks tailor made for the rigours of this similar prize.
Prior to that excellent display, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding had finished a creditable runner-up to the well-handicapped Madara in the Plate at the Cheltenham festival and that effort was yet another example of how well big-field, strongly run handicaps suits him.
Moreover, he has the valuable experience of having run twice around today’s venue, once in victory, and his (usual) prominent race style suggests he has similar attributes to many previous winners of this race.
Of the rest, Nowwhatdoyouthink has the potential to be the most dangerous opponent, particularly if he happens to take to the track at the first time of asking.
A useful novice for Ray Hackett, the son of Mount Nelson has joined powerful connections following his excellent effort behind stable mate Western Fold in a Group 1 at Punchestown and being a second-season chaser open to further improvement, he could easily make a big impact of his first outing for a yard that has captured this prize five times in the last decade. The advice would be to have a small saver on him.
WILL THE WISE – 1-point each-way@8-1 (six places)
NOWWHATDUYOUTHINK – ½ point win@7-1
7.5 GALWAY
MOONLIT SUN has exhibited a huge amount of potential on both her two starts to date and although siding with a lightly raced filly with little experience comes with its risks around a track like Galway, a chance is taken on her having the sufficient levels of ability to cope.
Little did we know at the time, but she faced an impossible task against subsequent pattern-race winner, Sparan Nua, on debut at Naas back in May but she put that valuable experience gained to good use on her return to the Kildare venue, scoring with a shade in hand over the same C&D.
While the overall form might not amount to much, there was plenty to admire about the way the daughter of Sea The Moon muscled her way out of a pocket and into the clear and the way she hit the line suggests there should be plenty more to come.
Clearly a filly with a fair amount of quality, the way she races and her pedigree suggest she will be seen to better effect over further in time, but providing she gets a reasonable rub of the green, tonight’s stiff, extended mile might be a sufficient test for her to prove equal to the task.
MOONLIT SUN – 1-point each-way@11-2 (four places)