DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY OCTOBER 3
2.05 NEWMARKET
Half Sovereign is a big old girl for a two-year-old and on the evidence of her most recent success – her fourth on the spin – Karl Burke’s filly could still have more to come.
As is often the case in these sales races, however, you can get some funny results and she is up against several with the potential to cause a shock, ACCIDENTAL BID (best price 11-1) being one you could easily put into that category.
Adrian Nicholls’ inmate has just had the one run so far to date and it was a performance full of promise in a race noted for its strong speed figure.
Caught out wide early due to his high draw (10 of 11), the son of Phoenix of Spain still gave up the outside to nobody turning for home but despite giving away valuable ground and expending energy, he somehow managed to run on best of all to keep the favourite, Be The Standard, honest all the way to the line.
Finishing clear of the rest, it’s worth noting the fourth, fifth and sixth have all boosted the form with wins since, and with the shrewd outfit, Australian Bloodstock, seemingly not missing a trick either, their most recent acquisition is fancied to grab a decent share of the big money on offer before being shipped off to the southern hemisphere.
ACCIDENTAL BID – 1-point each-way@11-1 (four places)
2.52 CURRAGH
Plenty of the usual suspects faced the starter for this six-furlong handicap and the one who makes the most appeal given the conditions is JON RIGGENS (best price 9-2).
Edward Lyanam’s inmate has drew a blank so far this season but, there have been mitigating circumstances along the way, and his latest effort over today’s C&D is testimony to that view.
Held up towards the rear in the viciously competitive Bold Lad Sprint Handicap, the seven-year-old was screaming for room in a tightly packed field around the two-furlong marker but from that juncture the gaps failed to materialise, and he ended up having to sit and suffer.
He did, however, finish off his race with plenty of pep in his step and now heading back in the direction of much more calmer waters, he can add to his three previous wins at the Kildare venue on his preferred ground.
JON RIGGENS – 1-point each-way@9-2
4.30 REDCAR
DEBORAH’S DREAM
5.10 CURRAGH
RIZAL (best price 9-2) is still awaiting his first victory, but he has shown enough promise on his last three starts to suggest today could well be the day the tide turns in his favour, and he is worth playing accordingly.
A big eye-catcher on handicap debut at Galway, when not getting the clearest of runs, the decision to run him at Bellewstown next time seemed a little odd given his size and as events panned out, that theory played out to a tee.
Back at Ballybrit for his latest assignment, the scopey three-year-old once again exhibited affair amount of ability in the face of adversity and his three-length defeat doesn’t do him full justice.
Considering he had to circumnavigate his way around the entire field rounding the home turn, he did extremely well to get as close as he did to the winner and with today’s straighter, more galloping track likely to see him in a much better light, he can finally fulfil his potential.
RIZAL – 1-point each-way@9-2 (five places)