DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 8
1.50 NAVAN
It is fair to say the opening maiden hurdles looks a very weak affair and Gordon Elliott has the strongest hand on paper with Coyote Spirit and Whinney Hill both having the credentials to claim the prize in the absence of no other big stables in attendance.
However, GOOD DEAL might prove himself capable of being a party pooper on account of several of his better runs and at the prices, Patrick Magee’s inmate rates a solid enough each-way alternative.
Although well beaten over today’s C&D last time out, he went well for a long way against the likes of Zeus Power and Lazare De Star and with the speed figure of the race suggesting it was a very good race of its kind, his effort in defeat reads a good deal better than it did at first glance.
A winner of a bumper at Fairyhouse last season, he also ran well in a maiden hurdle over the same course at the big Easter meeting and his only disappointing run came when he didn’t face the first-time hood at the Meath venue on his final out of the campaign.
Clearly no star, he has shown enough to suggest he can win a modest contest, which today’s most definitely is and having proven himself around the track on similar ground, it would be a surprise if he wasn’t in the frame at the very least.
GOOD DEAL – 1-point each-way@6-1
3.37 CHELMSFORD
JODHPUR BLUE has been acquitting himself reasonably well in much better races than the one he faces here today and he rates a strong choice to take advantage of a drop in grade.
Ian Williams’ travelled strongly for a long way in a competitive 1m4f contest at Wolverhampton last time out before not quite seeing out the trip but even allowing for his three-length defeat, he still managed to post a career high speed figure by some way.
Prior to that commendable effort, the son of Blue Point only just got touched off by the in-form Dust Cover at Southwell and that performance also reads well in the context of today’s race.
To add to his solid claims, the five-year-old has a strong piece of form over today’s C&D next to his name courtesy of his fourth behind track specialist Time Tested, and even though he faces the in-form Harlington today, it is noticeable all his best form has come at Class 6 level.
JODHPUR BLUE – 1-point win@2-1