DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY OCTOBER 2
6.00 DUNDALK
Time may tell HIDDEN GIFT bumped into a very useful juvenile in the shape of Myesme at Beverley last time out and in a race where bar Big Negotiator, looks up for grabs, she can seriously punch above her weight/rating.
Having been good enough to finish a close-up fifth in the Albany behind Libertango and Sun Goddess back in June, it was easy to see why Richard & Peter Fahey’s filly was a warm order to land what appeared an ordinary maiden at the Yorkshire venue but unfortunately for her and her supporters, she was in for a rude awakening.
Despite travelling well in behind a very strong pace from the outset, she couldn’t lay a glove on a winner who went on to post an extremely fast speed figure for a race of its kind and, as a result, she found her previous assessment of 88 dropping to 84.
Based on the data and the high regard Ed Bethell holds of her conqueror (strongly fancied in tomorrow’s Redcar 2yo Trophy) the reaction to her revised mark is probably one of the main reasons why she has been dismissed by many in tonight’s contest but she is surely better than that (as Bradley Walsh often says on The Chase) and she can prove that point at rewarding odds.
HIDDEN GIFT – ½ point each-way@12-1 (four places)
7.30 DUNDALK
There are plenty with solid form at pattern level for whom strong cases can be made in this listed affair but the one who could prove to be the joker in the pack is AACHEN and a chance is taken on Aidan O’Brien’s colt defying his lack of experience.
Indeed, it was his greenness that ultimately found him out on his debut over today’s course two months ago, but he did hint he might well be a totally different proposition with that all-important run under his belt.
Whether he can improve significantly enough to cope with today’s huge step up in class is a moot point, but he is nice physical and he is trained by a genius who clearly thinks he is good enough to take his chance.
AACHEN – ½ point each-way@12-1