DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY DECEMBER 13
1.30 DONCASTER
HEATHER HONEY (best price 7-2) had a rather ambitious entry in the mares listed prize a little later on today’s card but with connections quite rightly deciding on this more realistic option, Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith’s inmate makes plenty of appeal to follow up her recent Catterick success.
In hindsight, taking on the likes of Kateira and World Of Fortune would have been a bit of a stretch, but it just proves how highly regarded the daughter of Getaway must be at home and given the form she is in of late, she probably wouldn’t have disgraced herself.
The way she strode clear and overall manner of her victory at the Yorkshire track belied a horse of a rating of 104 and even her revised mark of 112 still looks way short of where she will end up.
The only negative against her prospects of winning again would be bad ground but conditions didn’t appear to be too penal here yesterday and, with a favourable forecast for today, she shouldn’t have too many concerns.
HEATHER HONEY – 1-point win@7-2
1.50 CHELTENHAM
VINCENZO (best price 7-2) did precious little wrong in his bid to pull off his long-term objective in the Paddy Power Gold Cup here last month and there is every reason to stay loyal to Sam Thomas’ inmate in his attempt to go one place better.
Well positioned in the early part of the race on the Old Course, he ended up challenging around the inside which, on top of a slow jump at the last (got in tight and landed in a heap), ultimately did him no favours when pounced upon by the sweet-travelling Panic Attack.
Not for one minute am I suggesting the result would have been any different but there was a good deal to like about the way he stayed on in isolation, and we know what the winner has gone on to achieve since.
Obviously, it was a massive pot to win and connections would have got him as fit as they could at home, but at the same time, you can not put a figure on how much benefit that initial run would have done him and having gone just as well on his only previous outing over today’s New Course, another positive outcome looks highly likely from this consistent performer.
VINCENZO – 1-point win@7-2
3.17 DONCASTER
The Ben Pauling train shows no sign of slowing down and it is a case of getting all on board with LANSBOROUGH (best price 5-2) in the last here to hopefully complete another profitable day for the Naunton handler (big chance with The Jukebox Kid at Cheltenham).
The six-year-old hasn’t been out since dotting up at Warwick back in February but this looks a good starting point for a horse who has the potential to race in much better grade and the only thing that stands in his way will be his lack of sharpness after a 295-day break.
How he didn’t win at either Chepstow or Hereford prior to finally getting off the mark at the Midland venue was a bit of a mystery, but it means he begins this season on a mark way below his true worth and the form of his latest exploits was regally advertised by Either Or beaten 34 lengths) here yesterday.
LANSBOROUGH – 1-point win@5-2
6.30 WOLVERHAMPTON
BRASIL POWER (best price 9-2) looked on good terms with himself when scoring at Kempton last time out and even though he is asked to run over an extra furlong-and-a-half, George Boughey’s gelding rates a confident choice to prove equal to the task at hand.
Winning up the inside of the track at the Sunbury venue has proved tricky for those that have attempted to pull off the feat in recent times, so his effort can be upgraded, and he looks to have escaped relatively Scot free only being tweaked 3lb in the ratings.
Prior to that career high performance on the figures, he had caught the eye with the way he finished off his race over the extended mile in a similarly competitive affair and this six-year-old, often a smooth traveller through his races, may end up improving for tonight’s extended 1m1f journey.
BRASIL POWER – 1-point each-way@9-2 (four places)