DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY AUGUST 22
3.00 YORK
LIFEPLAN (best price 11-2) may have only captured a maiden last time and, is the most inexperienced in the field, but he could easily be the most talented and he rates a strong choice to back up that view in what looks on paper a substandard Gimcrack.
Well touted among several who brought solid form to the table on his opening bow at Thirsk, Declan Carroll’s colt went through the first portion of the well-run affair like a good horse and when asked to go and win his race inside the final two furlongs, he did so in the style of a very useful juvenile.
Even without being unduly punished, he posted the sort of speed figure suggesting he is well above average and with connections wasting no time to roll the dice in pattern company, it would come as no surprise if he were to justify this bold move.
LIFEPLAN – 1-point each-way@11-2
3.35 YORK
It has been well documented; the sprinting division has been extremely tough to call in recent times and the results this season have been testimony to that viewpoint.
However, if there is such a thing as a solid one in this year’s Nunthorpe it’s ARIZONA BLAZE (best price 9-2) and he rates a confident choice to back up that view at a track where he has gone well before.
Only once so far this season has Adrian Murray’s inmate failed to come up with the goods but other than that, he has been consistent as the day is long, and he arrives here following a career high when landing the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at The Curragh.
Always prominent at the Kildare venue, there was a lot to like about the way the son of Sergei Prokhofiev powered clear in the closing stages and that performance sets him up nicely in his bid to go one place better than he did in the big sales race here last year.
ARIZONA BLAZE – 1-point each-way@9-2 (four places)
5.20 YORK
MONTPELLIER (best price 11-2) left the impression he was slightly unfortunate not to walk away with a decent pot at Goodwood last time out and he is afforded another chance to back up that view in this similar contest.
Held up off the pace at the Sussex venue, James Ferguson’s was screaming for room inside the final two furlongs but by the time he had extracted himself from the pocket, the main players had just got away from him.
Considering how well he hit the line 20 days ago, he shapes like an extra furlong will play into his strengths and with Ryan Moore booked a real signal of intent, the son of Wootton Bassett is a difficult one to ignore.
MONTPELLIER – 1-point each-way@11-2 (five places)
6.35 HAMILTON
PADDY THE SQUIRE (NAP) (best price 5-2) continues to thrive based on the evidence of his performance at Thirsk last time out and there appears no logical reason to desert Iain Jardine’s gelding at a track where he has gone well on his two previous visits.
The five-year-old looked a class apart heading into his latest encounter at the Yorkshire venue having played significant roles in two white-hot handicaps on his two previous starts and so it proved, as he eased his way clear in the latter stages once picking up the running turning for home.
Although it appeared a straightforward exercise at first glance, the speed figure he posted suggested it was a performance of a good deal more substance and his final three-furlong sectionals, on par with the sprinters on the same card, also backed up that view.
The way he hit the line full of running hinted at a horse right on top of game at present and with tonight’s long pull from the top of the hill all the way to the line ample time for him to really hit his straps, the son of Golden Horn can back up the view that he is not far off edging towards pattern level.
PADDY THE SQUIRE – 2-point win@5-2