DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY OCTOBER 15
1.37 CURRAGH
MOLTOPHINO has really clicked into gear on his last three starts and with today’s extra furlong seen as a help rather than a hindrance, the son of Profitable can add to his sole victory of the season at Navan.
The five-year-old certainly wasn’t winning out of turn at the Meath venue a month ago and if events had panned out a little kinder for him here last time out, he might have followed up.
As is often the case over the straight course at this time of year, the stands side proved to be a golden highway throughout the card and being housed in stall 11 of the 20 strong field, he couldn’t quite work himself into a position of strength soon enough.
However, he was noticed doing some useful late work to finish a never-nearer third and with his last two set of numbers suggesting he brings the best recent form to the party, there is every chance he will be there or thereabouts again.
MOLTOPHINO – 1-point each-way@9-2 (four places)
3.57 CURRAGH
PRIORSTOWN left the impression the tight bends at Listowel last time out threw him off kilter and now back over a more conventional circuit, Johnny Murtagh’s inmate can continue his progression.
The son of Infraad was fancied to build on his breakthrough success at Roscommon previously but for starters he was handed a desperate draw to work from and secondly, he never really looked comfortable trying to operate around one of the sharpest tracks in Ireland.
However, despite the forces beyond his control working against him, he still managed to put in a decent shift to finish a creditable second to the well-ridden, Canon Law, and it was a performance that went a long way to suggest he remains a progressive staying type.
Indeed, his previous success came about when he was stepped up in trip and fitted with the first-time cheekpieces and with that devise back on today, the talented, if slightly quirky three-year-old (can carry his head a bit proud), is fancied to prove he is way better than his current mark of 66.
PRIORSTOWN – 1-point each-way@4-1 (five places)
7.30 SOUTHWELL
RETURN OF THE GODS has really come into his own of late and Ed Bethell’s improving sprinter can add another string to his bow by translating his talents back to the all-weather.
The son of Tasleet flirted with seven furlongs during a decent spell in the summer but dropping back in trip at Redcar last time out, he gave signal that he might be a more potent force over six.
The way he travelled before quickening in decisive fashion at the Yorkshire venue was very impressive and the time figure he posted was by some way his best.
Based on the data, he still appears well treated even off his revised mark of 85 and having gone well around a bend before when scoring at Wolverhampton as a juvenile, hope is high he will take to tonight’s track at the first time of asking.
RETURN OF THE GODS – 1-point win@7-2