DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 4
3.25 BANGOR
ERNEST GRAY isn’t the most straightforward of characters but he does win his fair share (6-25) and with his last two runs suggesting he is slowly working his way back to something like his best, a chance is taken on Alan King’s inmate adding to the win column.
The nine-year-old shaped pretty well on his first outing for four months in a warm race for the grade at Uttoxeter in July and although made the expected improvement at Market Rasen on his latest start, he just found the in-form Kiwi De Cotte in no mood to give up the ghost on his return to the scene of his previous C&D success.
Keeping on well late on, he left the Lincolnshire venue with medals blazing on his chest and with a speed figure that wasn’t too far off his best from Aintree at the beginning of the previous campaign, hope is high he can turn the tables around with his old rival now racing back in an anti-clockwise direction (all five wins in UK going left-handed).
ERNEST GRAY – 1-point win@9-4
4.42 KILBEGGAN
SPEISIALTA has made a decent fist of her first two starts over hurdles and if the data from the latest instalment is any guide, the daughter of Walk In The Park should give a good account on handicap debut.
It probably wasn’t the strongest mares maiden hurdle she captured at Sligo two starts ago but she went a good gallop from the outset and never looked like getting caught and although she found one too good in the shape of Daboya at Bellewstown last time, she left everything on the line.
Once again the six-year-old mare set sound fractions from the front at the Co Meath venue, that led to a very smart speed figure, and it was noticeable how well she rallied when looking like being completely swallowed up at the second last.
Moreover, she spent the latter stages swimming against the tide around the slowest part of the track (those racing wide had a huge advantage), which makes her effort even more commendable and with today’s sharp two miles likely to prove right up her alley, she can make a bold attempt to see it out from the front.
SPEISIALTA – 1-point each-way@7-1
4.48 ASCOT
ARCTIC THUNDER arrives here in the form of his life and armed with the knowledge that Ed Walker’s gelding is already proven over today’s track, it makes sense to stay loyal to him in his bid to complete his hat trick.
The five-year-old had cut a rather frustrating figure in recent times, often victim of a shed load of bad luck at critical moments in races but his good fortune changed at Salisbury two starts ago when on a straight track with nothing to get in his way, he sauntered to a seven-length success.
Although back on a track that potentially could have caused him problems at Haydock last time out, he made light work of his opposition for a second time and his subsequent rise to his revised mark of 96 looks totally justified based on the data he produced.
A horse with a high cruising speed that likes to sit and bide his time, today’s track offers him the perfect platform to show off his skills and providing they go a reasonable gallop over the straight mile, a rates a strong choice to come through from the rear to be a feature in the finish.
ARCTIC THUNDER – 1-point each-way@7-1 (four places)