DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY AUGUST 22
1.50 YORK
Damysus is no doubt a talented individual but at the same time, he is becoming a bookies cash cow and at the prices, he is passed over in favour of PERSICA.
Ever reliable, Richard Hannon’s inmate finally got his due rewards for a series of fine efforts against solid listed and Group 3 company at Newbury last time out and even though he huffed and puffed to get the job done, the speed figure he posted in victory gave the reason why.
Two runs prior, the five-year-old ran a tremendous race from stall 16 to finish a close-up fifth in the Wolferton at Royal Ascot and with that contest going on to produce such winners as Wimbledon Hawkeye, Survie, Galen and Enfjaar, around the globe, he easily brings some of the best recent form to the table.
PERSICA – 1-point each-way@15-2 (four places)
2.25 YORK
The likes of Hamish and Soulcombe landed this prize before going on to better things and William Haggas looks like he has another cab off the rank in the shape of INFRAAD.
Very much going in the right way, the son of Ghaiyyath should be unbeaten in his last three starts but for a horrific passage through at Chester two starts ago but he made up for that unlucky episode when scoring in gritty fashion at Goodwood last time.
Based on the fact it took him a while to find top gear before staying on strongly at the Sussex venue, today’s step up in trip over a more galloping track should play more into his strengths and still entered in the Group 1 St Leger, you would like to think he still has more to play with off a mark of 97.
INFRAAD – 1-point win@3-1
3.35 YORK
A race jump trainers have captured the last three renewals of this valuable staying handicap and that trend can continue again with DAIQUIRI BAY bidding to better his third place finish in the Melrose over the C&D last season.
Although beaten on merit on the day, Alan King’s inmate has improved immeasurably in the interim and with a gelding operation partly the reason for his rise through the ranks, there is every chance there could be more to come.
Indeed, his trainer has intimated that softer ground than what he has previously been encountering could be even more significant and we know he handles the track and a well-run, big field handicap to boot.
DAIQUIRI BAY – 1-point each-way@10-1 (six places)
4.45 YORK
DUBAI CHAMPION missed a seemingly easier engagement earlier in the week due to the strong possibility of a high draw being off putting for connections (20 of 20) and even though this contest clearly asked different questions, Ben Haslam’s colt might have the sufficient requirements to deal with his first step into pattern company.
Strongly fancied to land a very competitive nursery at Goodwood last time out, he put himself immediately on the back foot by falling out of the gates but to his great credit, he clawed himself back into contention by halfway and it was only the late thrust of Revels that prevented him from pulling off an unlikely victory.
Ironically, he was much more alertly away over five furlongs at Hamilton previously and the speed figure he posted that day suggests he is capable of being more than just a handicapper.
Although the assessor disagrees with that view just for now, there is every chance the son of Persian Force will have the last laugh at some stage and with conditions and seemingly the draw in his favour here this afternoon, a better exit from the gates is the only thing he will need to improve from last time to be a major force in this contest.
DUBAI CHAMPION – 1-point each-way@11-2