DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY AUGUST 16
2.50 DEAUVILLE
A tremendous renewal of one of Europe’s premier mile races of the season and there are genuine cases to be made for the first five in the betting.
Precise heads the market and there has been no shame attached to her defeats at the hands of the rapidly-improving mare, Blue Bolt, in her last two starts. At least with her latest encounter she gained valuable knowledge of today’s track and she looks sure to put up a bold bid to win this race for the second year running for her stable.
Aidan O’Brien’s filly looks the pick of the three-year-old’s but of the older generation, it is difficult to split ZEUS OLYMPIOS and More Thunder based on the evidence of their clashes so far this season but on grounds of value, the former comes across as being a fairly solid each-way proposition at the prices.
Behind his old rival when the finished second and fourth respectively in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, Karl Burke’s gelding gained his revenge on returning to the Berkshire venue last time out and although track position over the round track mile probably had more of a bearing on the result than ability, it was still a performance of the highest quality and one not to be dismissed lightly.
Heading back in the direction of a straight track here today, More Thunder does probably have the advantage of the pair in terms of turn of foot but he more often than not can make life difficult for himself and in the hope that Zeus Olympios can be positioned in much a manner that he obtains first run, the son of Night Of Thunder just receives the percentage call.
ZEUS OLYMPIOS – 1-point each-way@11-2
4.05 TRAMORE
WATCH THE WEATHER claimed some notable scalps when finishing a very creditable third in a ultra-competitive 2m2f handicap chase at Galway last time out and now in much more calmer waters, Ray Cody’s gelding can follow in the footsteps of Tullyveery Lad, who landed this prize for the stable last season.
Although he was never in a position to threaten eventual winner Blood Destiny at Ballybrit, he did stay on noticeably well in the last half a mile to claim a slice of the place money and considering that sort of trip was someway short of his optimum, his effort deserves extra merit.
Amazingly, for a ten-year-old, he has yet to encounter today’s track but the fact he handled the uphill and down dale nature of Galway suggests he will be fine around the Waterford venue and providing he can keep tabs with the leaders early (track often suits prominent racers), he can have his say towards the business end.
WATCH THE WEATHER – 1-point each-way@11-2
6.45 PONTEFRACT
VEBLEN GOOD arrives here with easily the best form lines next to his name and this previous C&D winner can add to his tally on his return to the Yorkshire venue.
Not only does his third to Jordan Electrics at Ayr read well on the data (second and fourth won since), his latest exploits at York in an ultra-competitive affair has seen the winner, Stratusnine, go on to finish second in the Stewards Cup, while the fifth, Red Spells Danger, and ninth, Addison Grey, have both won subsequently.
Impressing with the way he travelled on the Knavesmire, David O’Meara’s gelding was a little tight for room over towards the far side inside the final furlong that prevented him from finishing closer but the speed figure he posted in defeat was on par with his previous pb and a run of similar stature might be enough to prevent in-form Alpha Whiteburd, from completing a four-timer.
VEBLEN GOOD – 1-point win@11-4