DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY JULY 19
2.35 CURRAGH
A race that often goes the way of a top-class juvenile and despite PUERTO RICO (best price 6-1) being the second string of the Ballydoyle-trained pair, Aidan O’Brien’s inmate is expected to put his name in the hat as one of the better six-furlong colts of his generation so far this season.
Hugely promising on his debut behind stable mate Flushing Meadows over today’s C&D, the son of Wootton Bassett was a popular choice with many to build on that initial display in a similar contest on his return visit but through no fault of his own, he narrowly failed to justify favouritism.
His demise began when the field migrated over towards the stands side fence and, caught in a pocket, his main market rival, Learntodiscover, got a charmed run in the clear and gained a valuable two length advantage he could not regain.
Easily the best horse of the pair based on the evidence presented here 22 days ago, he should turn around the form with his old rival and provide stable companion, True Love, with the most to think about.
PUERTO RICO – 1-point win@6-1
2.50 CARTMEL
Jimmy Moffatt and Charlotte Jones teamed up to land this race with Alqamar four years ago and the locally based team could strike again with BITTALEMON (best price 4-1), who does not look too badly treated on handicap debut.
Picked up for 28k by current connections following a victory on the Flat for William Haggas, the daughter of Dubawi had a couple of ‘sighters’ around this venue before being found what appeared on paper, a decent opportunity to break her duck over hurdles and she did not disappoint.
Seeing out the trip well after following a solid pace set by race favourite Jolie Coeur Allen, the four-year-old chestnut ended up posting a useful speed figure and with this race a targeted by connections ever since, she can execute the plan under ideal conditions.
BITTALEMON – 1-point win@4-1
3.12 MARKET RASEN
You would not have gone too far wrong if following the Bowen family in this race over the years and the Welsh set-up look to have bright prospects again with their chief contender COURTLAND (best price 8-1), fresh off the back of an encouraging effort at Cartmel recently.
Off the track for 428 days prior to arriving at the Cumbrian venue, the 10-year-old was understandably a little rusty around a course that puts more emphasis on speed than stamina and, as a result, he languished in the rear for majority of the 2m5f journey.
He did, however, stay on nicely in the latter stages (on the long run from the last fence) to finish a never-nearer third and with the strong possibility that initial outing will have done him the world of good, he will hopefully come here cherry ripe in his bid to go one place better than he did here back in 2023.
COURTLAND – 1-point each-way@8-1 (four places)
4.00 CARTMEL
Trainers are creatures of habit and Jimmy Moffatt looks to have prepared CUZCO DU MATHAN (best price 5-1) to a nicety in his bid to follow up his victory over the same course a year ago.
Winner of the novices’ handicap at this corresponding meeting twelve months ago, connections used a race at a previous fixture to put the finishing touches on his preparations and the seven-year-old grey warmed up in a similar fashion this time around.
Although never a factor in the race won by Sir Tivo, he did catch the eye with the way he performed late on without being unduly punished and with a step up in trip not a bad option based on that effort 54 days ago, the grey can strike another blow for the locals.
CUZCO DU MATHAN – 1-point each-way@5-1
6.35 NEWMARKET
THATS MY BOY LUKE (best price 4-1) clocked a notable time figure for the grade at Ripon last time out and with connections willing to send him on a bit of a journey in a bid to find him another pot of gold, Tim Easterby’s gelding can do more than just pay for the diesel.
The four-year-old had been knocking at the door prior to his latest exploits at the Yorkshire venue and his victory, his first in his career, was no more than he deserved.
The fact his performance was easily the best on the card, however, was the most impressive aspect of his display and he would only need to repeat a similar level of form to contain today’s field.
THATS MY BOY LUKE – 1-point win@4-1