DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 8
4.20 GALWAY
KOTKITO BELLO (best price 11-2) ran out an honourable third in a warm mares’ handicap over today’ s C&D at the big meeting a month ago and it does not take too much imagination to see her going well again if duplicating the same level of performance.
Fitted with the first-time cheekpieces, the lightly raced five-year-old was given a positive ride from the front early but she was joined by Eyeeye after the second hurdle, and this meant she was unable to control the race in the manner her pilot would have wanted.
Despite being softened up in the lead, the daughter of No Risk At All still held ever chance jumping the last but she finally succumbed to the laws of physics on the long pull up hill to the line and she was picked off by two rivals who were more patiently ridden.
Considering the one who pestered her for the front running role fell through the back of the tv in the latter stages puts into context the level of commitment she showed at the Ballybrit venue and providing the battle for early supremacy is a little less hectic on her return visit, Philip Rothwell’s inmate is more than capable of going two places better.
KOTKITO BELLO – 1-point each-way@11-2 (five places)
5.22 GALWAY
LOUGH NIGARA (best price 11-2) is still to get off the mark in 10 starts but his performance when last seen at Listowel suggests he might not have to wait too much longer and providing he is somewhere to peak fitness after a 100-day break, Eion Griffin’s gelding can put up a bold bid to back up that viewpoint.
His effort alone in finishing a close-up third at the Kerry venue back in May reads well in context to today’s race but when you add in the fact, he was forced to race on the swamp around the inside of the track for the entirety of the extended 2m7f journey, his display deserves extra praise.
On the slip side, one of his main market rivals here today, Ballyroe Madam, had the luxury of racing on the less poached ground towards the outside rail and with the bookmakers suggesting his old foe is the one to beat here this afternoon, it doesn’t take a genius to work out who is the value bet of the pair based on the evidence of their last encounter.
LOUGH NIGARA – 1-point each-way@11-2 (five places)