DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY JULY 17
2.00 LEICESTER
The novice event won by Amakhala Warrior has worked out well as the speed figure suggested it might and of the pair who represent the form in this nursery, RENOVATIO ANGEL (best price 12-1) rates the percentage call at the morning prices.
Having his third start for a handicap mark at the Merseyside venue, Tom Dascombe’s inmate put himself immediately on the back foot with a slow start but despite giving away plenty of ground and turning for home stone last, he ran on to such a degree he managed to finish on the coat tails of the main players, only beaten two lengths.
Since that excellent effort the form has been boosted by the likes of Snake Charmer and Penhallam and providing he comes out the stalls today a little more alertly, he has a decent chance of turning around the form with Eyes Front, who has an obvious chance but doesn’t deserve to be five times shorter in the betting.
RENOVATIO ANGEL – 1-point each-way@12-1 (three places)
6.37 KILLARNEY
Queenofthelodge ran out a decisive winner of similarly competitive handicap at Tipperary last time out, but it was a meeting that heavily favoured those racing out wide and of the two who suffered most at the Limerick Junction venue, PENNY EXPRESS (best price 10-1) and HILLS OF GLORY (best price 25-1) look overprice in their bids to overturn the form.
The former was a shade keen in the initial stages but the worst thing that happened his prospects was picking up the running exiting the back straight around the inside, a manoeuvre which in the end, led to his demise.
Despite racing on the swamp for the thick end of half a mile, Gordon Elliott’s inmate still kept on well to finish a creditable fourth and with a profile to suggest he still has plenty to offer in races of this nature, he comes across as a solid each-way play.
The latter had the misfortune to race around the inside right from the start so if anything, his effort to finish sixth was even more praiseworthy.
Prior to that ill-judged ride, Gavin Cromwell’s gelding had taken the scalp of subsequent winner, Jazz De Cotte, in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick and he unwittingly looks underestimated in the early betting skirmishes.
PENNY EXPRESS – ½ point each-way@10-1 (five places)
HILLS OF GLORY – ½ point each-way@25-1 (five places)
6.52 LEOPARDSTOWN
GALEN (best price 9-4) easily brings the best current form to the party and despite having to take on the potential of lightly raced, three-year-old Purview, Joseph O’Brien’s inmate rates a strong fancy to come out on top.
Since fitted with cheekpieces, the chestnut has taken the scalp of Jan Brueghel, finish a close-up fifth behind Los Angeles & Co in the Group 2 Moorebridge Stakes and runner-up to Haatem in the Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot.
His latest effort deserves upgrading on account he had to race wide for majority of the journey and with the winner going on to boost the form with an excellent display in defeat back at the same venue last weekend, confidence is high Galen can follow suit at a track where he has run well twice in the past.
GALEN – 1-point win@9-4