DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
MONDAY NOVEMBER 17
1.00 NAVAN
RAGMAN’S CORNER (best price 13-2) ran right up to his best form in a very strong handicap at Down Royal last time out- much better than today’s – and having won both of his two previous starts at today’s track, a return to the Meath venue can see Gerard Keane’s inmate maintain that fine record.
The six-year-old travelled as well as anything heading down to the second last 16 days ago, but he couldn’t match the superior turn of foot of several classier types and in the end, he just kept on at the one pace into fourth.
Even so, his speed figure still came out as one of his better efforts in recent times and he has plenty of other notable efforts to his name too.
The son of Kalanisi took care of a useful field that included decent mare Whimsy (runs in the graded race today) over today’s C&D back in September and a repeat of something close to that form should see the top weight go close again.
RAGMAN’S CORNER – 1-point each-way@13-2 (four places)
1.35 NAVAN
A race carried over from the abandoned meeting on Saturday and under similar conditions, the same thoughts apply.
It is very much open for debate whether I’ll Sort That would have won at Galway last time out, Welonlyhaveone was seemingly going better when falling at the last, so it may pay to be slightly cautious about taking very short price about Declan Queally’s inmate.
Ace Brannigan remains progressive from an in-form team, but his winning form at Tipperary doesn’t amount to much and Ma Jacks Hill might not even turn out to be the best of the Gordon Elliott trained pair.
Therefore, the best policy could well be to look in the direction of both THEFLYINGKING (best price 3-1) and WHIMSY (best price 9-1), who have form and profiles to suggest they could easily be up to the task at hand.
The former was in the process of dotting up first time out over hurdles at Down Royal when falling at the last and providing he has suffered no lasting damage; Gordon Elliott’s grey has more than enough natural ability to make an impact.
Interestingly, at the point of the departure, he was noticeably only just behind the Graded mares race won by Full Of Life when placing the two races side by side on a TV screen to watch the respective final circuits and even though he drops down significantly in trip, the data points towards him having sufficient speed.
The latter had the misfortune to bump into the hugely progressive Love Me Tender at Tipperary last time out, but she did, in turn, finish miles clear of the rest and the speed figure was extremely good.
Prior to that excellent effort Anthony McCann’s inmate had run well under top weight in a competitive handicap hurdle over today’s C&D and with soft ground very much in her favour, this consistent mare is expected to be more than a dangerous floater.
THEFLYINGKING – 1-point win@3-1
WHIMSY – ½ point win@9-1