DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY AUGUST 21
1.50 YORK
Connections of JEDDAAL must still be walking around in a daze trying to come to terms how Almaqam had the big race on Wednesday wrestled out of their grasp
but a small degree of compensations may await their son of Lope De Vega in this competitive opener on day three.
Ed Walker’s inmate may have disappointed some at Thirsk last time out but the combination of fast ground and being there to be shot at a long way from home ultimately led to his downfall in the closing stages and he is better judged on his victory against his own age group under softer conditions at Chester previously.
Back among three-year-olds and on more favourable ground here this afternoon, his levels of consistency look set to continue at rewarding odds.
JEDDAAL – ½ point each-way@14-1 (five places)
3.00 YORK
Being a fully paid-up member of the Arapaho Gold fan club, it goes against the grain to oppose Michael Dods’ colt in this Group 2, especially as I advised him at Newbury last time out, but he might well meet his match here in the shape of MARCO POLO, who created a very favourable impression on his debut at The Curragh recently.
The conversion rate for Aidan O’Brien juveniles winning second time out following on from a promising effort on their initial outing is quite remarkable and this son of Night Of Thunder can hopefully fall neatly into the same category.
In a well-run affair at the Kildare venue, he had to bob and weave throughout the final part of the contest to obtain a clear run but once out in the open, he came home to best effect to finish a never-nearer second.
Leaving the impression he will be all the better for the outing, more mentally than anything else, the fact he bypasses a maiden – the nature pathway – to come here for this stiffer test speaks volumes about how highly he is regarded by connections and their bold stance looks set to be rewarded in some way shape or form.
MARCO POLO – 1-point win@3-1
5.27 SALISBURY
Getting involved in amateur rider races isn’t the wisest move on a long-term basis but the advice here is to break rank and side with DARVEL who should put up a bold bid to retain his crown from last year.
Scoring in the hands of today’s pilot at the Wiltshire venue twelve months ago, Pat Chamings’ gelding has failed in his bid to replicate that feat in nine races since but his last couple of runs have been encouraging enough to suggest he is beginning to come back to the boil.
His effort when third at Epsom two starts ago was noted for its good speed figure for the grade and he followed it up with another solid performance at Chepstow last time out.
Not receiving the clearest of runs at the business, he left the impression he may well have gone close but for meeting interference at a crucial stage and now back to the scene of his last victory with hopefully a bit of ease underfoot (forecast showers), the son of Dark Angel can justify solid each-way support.
DARVEL – 1-point each-way@5-1
6.27 SALISBURY
COYY was literally never at the races in a warm handicap at Goodwood last time but he was noted doing some sterling late work to finish a respectable distance behind some bang-in-form sprinters and there was enough encouragement in that run to make him a viable proposition in today’s weaker race.
Falling out of the stalls and being detached in furlong event is never a good thing at the best of times but in a race where the field are going flat out downhill for the first two furlongs meant the son of Far Above was a lost cause by halfway.
However, his backend sectionals were only bettered by the winner Nanna’s Shadow, and given how well the form of the race carried itself forward to York on Wednesday (Miss Yerchance, Nanna’s Shadow, Old Is Gold, Manatee Mehmas and Baker Blue filled out the first five places), his performance deserves even more praise.
Based on the evidence of that effort and many others over the minimum trip, he looks to be crying out for an extra furlong and he is worth sniffing around in the win and top three finish markets at his morning odds.
COYY – ½ point each-way@6-1 (three places)