DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 20
1.15 AYR
THEORYOFEVERYTHING (best price 9-1) ran better than his finishing position suggested in a warm race at Ascot last time out and, a result, he deserves more than a second look in this wide-open affair.
Drawn in stall 1 at the Berkshire venue, life was always going to be difficult for David O’Meara’s inmate to work himself into a challenging position with the field all coming over towards the stands side fence and so it proved.
That said, the Frankel gelding did get stopped several times at a crucial stage that prevented a better outcome, and he deserves the benefit of the doubt moving forward.
A winner on soft ground over today’s C&D earlier in the season, there is more than a fair chance he arrives here in a similar shape based on his effort last time and hailing from a stable that has already struck oil at this meeting, the five-year-old can add his name to the list.
THETHEORYOFEVERYTHING – ½ point each-way@9-1 (four places)
2.05 NEWBURY
There have been two running’s of the extended 1m5f handicap, and both have gone the way of Hughie Morrison, so it may pay to take more than a second glance at AZAHARA PALACE (best price 20-1) in his bid to retain his crown.
The five-year-old has hit a rich vein of form since returning after a break and her victory at Epsom in July was achieved with a degree of comfort.
Dropped in trip at Sandown next time, she did the best to overcome a poor track position turning for home and, in finishing a never-nearer fifth, she left the impression a return to a stiffer examination would suit.
Getting her wishes at Bath last time out, she tried her level best to wear down Miss Dolly Rocker in the latter stages of a very strongly run 1m4f affair but in the end, she just couldn’t quite get by a very game opponent who obtained first run.
She did, however, post an extremely good speed figure for her troubles and having gone well over today’s track before under testing conditions, she might prove to be a dangerous floater off bottom weight in the first-time blinkers.
AZAHARA PALACE – ½ point each-way@20-1 (four places)
3.35 AYR
After two days of racing over the straight track at the Scottish venue, there still appears to be an element of confusion as to which part of the course is favoured and the outcome will probably all boil down to where is the best early pace.
With that in mind, the safest play is to pick one from either side and the two who make the most appeal given their current form are TWO TRIBES (best price 10-1) and DESERT FALCON (best price 12-1).
The former has already bagged one of these big sprint handicaps so far this season and this similar prize has been the target ever since.
On the face of it, Richard Spencer looks to have a bit to find with ante-post favourite Northern Ticker on their recent clash at York, but a closer inspection tells a different story.
Hampered badly at the start, the son of Rajasinghe found himself in the cheap seats throughout the first half of the contest but it was noticeable how much ground he recovered in the second half, and it was easy to draw to the conclusion he was the best horse in the race.
Although today’s ground is slightly slower than what he encountered at Goodwood, connections insist he will be fine and having already proven himself over the C&D in the past, a big run looks on the cards if housed on the right side of the draw.
The latter arrives here in tremendous shape and his latest victory at Doncaster was highlighted by a very fast time.
The fact he stays beyond six furlongs is in-keeping with many previous winners of this race and hailing from a yard who won the Bronze Cup yesterday, Julie Camacho’s inmate has fair claims of joining fellow stable mate, Significantly, on the honours board.
TWO TRIBES – ½ point each-way@10-1 (six places)
DESERT FALCON – ½ point each-way@12-1 (six places)
4.25 NEWBURY
For those of us who sided with ARCTIC THUNDER (best price 6-1) at Haydock last time out, we are still receiving counselling and the only way to erase those memories is to keep the faith with Ed Walker’s inmate in the hope lightening doesn’t strike twice.
The son of Night Of Thunder was extremely well backed to cast aside some shoddy previous form figures and having spent the whole race bobbing and weaving trying to find space in which to manoeuvre, he never got the chance to justify his position at the head of the market.
Ironically, the race went the way of his stable companion, Ata Rangi, but given the way the four-year-old finished off his race, he would have surely left the Merseyside venue with the bragging rights.
Back over a more conventional track where he will have more room to operate, a good middle draw should give his pilot options to produce his mount to a nicety.
ARCTIC THUNDER – 1-point each-way@6-1