DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 7
3.00 EXETER
Probably the biggest field we have seen so far this jumps season (cue loads of non-runners!), and it is a race that should see CHICAGO STORM (best price 11-1) more competitive than his morning odds suggest.
Daisy Hitchen’s inmate has done well since joining current connections and he was unlucky not to add to his two victories last term at Wincanton and Stratford when almost tripping up at Huntingdon going best on the home turn.
A creditable fourth at Worcester when last seen over hurdles, the front three home that day have all boosted the form since and it was nice to see him shape with plenty of enthusiasm on his first outing for 119 days on the Flat recently.
Last turning for home in a competitive field at Kempton, the six-year-old caught the eye with the way he finished off his race and that effort should have put a nice edge of his fitness levels on his return to the winter game.
Best going right-handed over two miles on decent ground, everything looks set fair for this locally trained performer to keep the fine recent run of the stable going in the right direction.
CHICAGO STORM – ½ point each-way@11-2 (five places)
6.15 DUNDALK
CHERRY PINK (best price 17-2) and Sarmiento Power fought out the finish of a competitive handicap over 1m2f here last time out and the former is fancied to assert her superiority for the second time.
The daughter of Elzaam had hinted of better times ahead with a pleasing effort over the same C&D previously and true to form, she stayed on strongly in the latter stages to get the better of her main market rival with a bit to spare.
Posting a useful speed figure for the grade, the form has worked out well since and with tonight’s extra yardage a possible source of further improvement, the five-year-old mare makes more appeal than most.
CHERRY PINK – ½ point each-way@17-2 (four places)
6.45 DUNDALK
AVIATRICE (best price 13-2) will have to take another step forward to be competitive in this grade, but she has a fine record at this track, and it is not beyond the realms of possibility she can do so.
David Marnane’s filly was only rated 78 heading into her latest test over today’s track, but she ended up making a mockery of that assessment, dishing out a four-length hammering, and the speed figure also backed up that view.
Although that victory came over seven-furlongs, the way she strode out in the closing stages strongly hints she will be equally effective over tonight’s trip (ran well on her two starts over a mile) and with most of her main market rivals either having no, or very little experience of this surface, she can put her track knowledge to good use from a potentially favourable draw.
AVIATRICE – 1-point each-way@13-2 (four places)