DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
TUESDAY JULY 8
3.10 PONTEFRACT
As is often the case with these listed fillies’ races, the ratings dictate how the market reacts and, as a result, there are usually a few who get completely overlooked despite their form warranting more respect.
The one who fits into that category here is CHESHIRE DANCER (best price 22-1) and a repeat of her excellent effort in the Kensington Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot should easily see her outrun her odds.
Although she ended up being on the right side of the draw at the Berkshire venue, stall 23 and being caught out on the wing towards the nearside rail didn’t help her cause, but despite that impost, she ran way beyond expectations to finish a close-up third.
Due to the very fast pace from that start, her speed figure in obtaining that excellent placing was by some distance a career high and having proven that she can handle an end-to-end gallop over a mile on a stiff track, you would like to think today’s track would play right into her strengths.
CHESHIRE DANCER – ½ point each-way@22-1
4.10 PONTEFRACT
Analogical was always likely to catch the main headlines here given his trainer and profile but he may not get things all his own way up against RIBBLE RIVER (best price 7-2), who similarly arrives here in decent shape.
Kevin Ryan’s inmate was involved in a bit of a wild finish at Catterick last time out, just losing out by a narrow margin, but it was another effort to suggest he still remains on an upward curve.
A solid third over today’s C&D on his first outing of the season, he arrives here the only horse in the field proven over today’s stiff track and with his numbers over the last year suggesting he is incredibly reliable when in a race run at a sound gallop, the son of Ribchester makes the most appeal as the one to put it up to the favourite.
RIBBLE RIVER – 1-point win@7-1
5.10 PONTEFRACT
MATCH PLAY (best price 4-1) posted a career high on the figures when scoring on his first attempt over today’s C&D last time out and a quick follow up looks on the cards under similar conditions.
Paul Midgley’s gelding had been knocking at the door since the start of the season and in a race that was strongly run from the outset, he found the necessary change of gear to come clear in the closing stages.
Noticeably, that effort along with his previous fine second at Thirsk came without the addition of any headgear and with Candy Warhol and The Vital Spark likely to carry today’s field along at a good clip from the outset, his ability to stalk and pounce can be seen to good effect for a second time at the Yorkshire venue.
MATCH PLAY – 1-point each-way@4-1