DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23
2.18 WINDSOR
HIGH FIBRE (best price 5-1), in-keeping with his yard, is slowly edging back to his best form, and now presented with what appears on paper a more realistic opportunity to be competitive, Harry Fry’s gelding rates one of the more solid options on today’s card.
The six-year-old arrives here having taken part in a red-hot handicap hurdle at Ascot a month ago and although beaten 11 lengths on the day, the form of the winner, Alexei, since, suggested he ran a good deal better than first feared.
Tried over 2m4f on his three previous starts, he appeared more at home in a well environment over the minimum trip and with today’s race a far cry from the one he tackled at the Berkshire venue, it would be a shock if he didn’t have major say at this level.
HIGH FIBRE – 1-point each-way@5-1
2.45 CORK
NEY (best price 6-1) shaped as though he would be all the better for the outing on his seasonal bow at Fairyhouse earlier this month and now back over fences, Ned Buckley’s inmate is fancied to be a challenger for top honours.
A dual chase winner last season, the seven-year-old returned off a 255 day break at the Meath venue prominent in the market in his bid to take advantage of what appeared a favourable hurdles mark but having been the only one to chart a course around the inside on the swamp when every other horse raced wide looking for the better ground, he understandably succumbed to the track bias.
Why he was ridden in such a strange fashion, only those closest to the horse can provide the answer but either way, he did well to finish fifth when he should have fallen through the back of the telly.
Having won over 2m6f at Punchestown last season and secure in the knowledge he handles today’s track courtesy of a victory over hurdles two years ago, the son of Free Eagle makes plenty of appeal from an each-way perspective.
NEY – 1-point each-way@6-1