DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY JULY 24
3.20 SANDOWN
HAYYNAH (best price 9-2) was narrowly touched off by an improving type in the shape of Rydale Frosty at Windsor last time out but with the prospect of more to come racing over an extra furlong, Ollie Sangster’s filly can justify the step up into pattern company.
Although her defeat would have disappointed many, the daughter of Showcasing produced a speed figure that was a small crumb of comfort to connections, and it wasn’t as if she was stopping at the end of that well-run affair.
A big eye-catcher over the same C&D on her debut, she also hit the line very strong that day and hailing from a trainer who has captured this prize in the last two seasons, she easily has the talent to make it three.
HAYYNAH – 1-point each-way@9-2
6.15 WEXFORD
HATFIELD HAMMER (best price 4-1) was ultimately given too much to do over today’s course last time out, but it was a performance to press home the view he remains if terrific form and he there appears no obvious reason why he won’t go well again on his return to his local track.
Off the mark with a previous C&D win, Paul Nolan’s inmate was a strong choice for many to repeat the dose two months later but in a race that produced the fastest final circuit time on the card, trying to come from last to first proved a bridge too far.
Finishing a creditable second in the circumstances, however, is still deemed a fair effort and now returning to a trip more in-keeping with his profile, the six-year-old looks poised to keep his levels of consistency intact.
HATFIELD HAMMER – 1-point win@4-1
8.03 NEWBURY
SHADY BAY (best price 3-1) had the form of her recent success at Nottingham given the ultimate thumbs up with the runner-up bolting up back at the same track last week and confidence is high Tom Ward’s filly can tread a similar path in a race not exactly brimming with in-form rivals.
Held up way off the strong pace set by San Francisco Bay, the daughter of New Bay made smooth headway to get within range of the leader three out and keeping on in relentless fashion, she eased her way clear to the tune of five lengths.
Clearly much better suited by the drop back down in trip having failed to stay 1m4f three times on the spin, she should get another decent tempo to aim at courtesy of Premier’s presence in the field, and she rates a strong choice to follow up her huge performance on the clock.
SHADY BAY – 1-point win@3-1
8.40 YARMOUTH
Wave Rider has the kind of sexy profile that was always likely to attract the attention of the punters but whether he quite has the form to warrant him being so short in the betting is open to debate and he passed over in favour of ZAIN BLUE (best price 15-2), available at much more rewarding odds.
It can be argued that John Butler’s inmate has the stronger form of the pair for starters, and then when you add in the fact both his two career wins have come on a soft surface, his chances become even more persuasive.
Moreover, his last two runs at York have been in extremely strongly run races and in particularly, his effort in the race won by Burrito a month ago enabled him to run a career high on the data and since then, the form has worked out a treat with the likes of See That Storm, Paddy The Squire and Faylaq all going on to run blinders in three big heritage handicaps.
Despite those two sterling efforts, he somehow has been allowed to drop back down to his last winning mark of 83 and with the prospect of him being sold (withdrawn from the recent Tattersalls July sale) in favour of cracking on his races of this nature a decision based on solid foundations, the four-year-old can reward connections’ choice with immediate effect.
ZAIN BLUE – 1-point each-way@15-2 (four places)