DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MARCH 6
3.10 EXETER
A tightly knit affair with more than a few capable of stepping up to the plate but the most solid option might turn out to be PHOENIX RISEN, who arrives here following a victory that was on the cards at Taunton last time out.
Jeremy Scott’s gelding just ran out of puff in the latter stages of a competitive handicap on his first outing of the season over today’s C&D but it was a performance that set the platform for his next two starts.
Run out of the argument by the progressive Port Laurette at Wincanton next time, his effort deserved upgrading on account of him being forced to race around the unfavoured inside of the track and it came no surprise to see him gain compensation when heading down the road for a similar event.
Once again, aggressively ridden at the west country venue, the son of Conduit set a strong pace that soon had his rivals in trouble and maintaining the gallop all the way to the line, he posted a career high speed figure.
Likely to be asked to do the heavy lifting again, the nine-year-old, reinvigorated by the blinkers, can carve out another positive result.
PHOENIX RISEN – ½ point each-way@10-1
3.50 AYR
PLATIN MOON is the only C&D winner in the field and he is fancied to keep that stat intact back to the scene of his victory two starts ago.
Nick Alexander’s inmate was given a really cute ride by Bruce Lynn two months ago, staying out wide to seek the better ground while his main marker rival, He’s Brazilian, went around the swamp on the inner and the five-year-old saw his race out well to post a decent speed figure.
Since then, the runner-up has gone on to advertise the form with a win and the son of Sea The Moon went close to doing the same at Musselburgh last time, finishing a creditable third behind track specialist, Magna Sam.
Back to the Scottish venue and dropping down to Class 5 grade, Platin Moon has every chance of taking advantage of less choppy waters.
PLATIN MOON – 1-point win@5-2