DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY MAY 15
2.55 YORK
HAVE SECRET, despite having his 37th start, produced a career high on the figures at Pontefract last time out and with conditions to suit, Richard & Peter Fahey’s gelding looks to have strong claims of going close in his bid to follow up.
A regular on the scene in big, northern middle-distance handicaps over the last two seasons, the six-year-old has won his fair share when things have gone in his favour and they have usually occurred when the tempo has been strong from the outset, as it was a month ago.
Always well positioned at the Yorkshire venue, he stayed on willingly in the final two furlongs to ease clear of his rivals and the clock pointed towards a very fast time figure for the grade, adding an extra layer to the performance.
Although yet to win on the Knavesmire, he has run well on all four visits, including when third in this race last year, and another solid effort looks on the cards if he can bring his A-game to the table.
HAVE SECRET – 1-point each-way@10-1 (five places)
4.40 YORK
SCHRODINGER’S CAT can be considered a shade unlucky not to go one place better than on his previous outing at Chester last week and with connections clearly intent on wiping that run out of the memory bank sooner rather than later, Grant Tuer’s gelding is fancied to make the quick turnaround pay.
Flamboyant in the way he went through his race off the back of a break at Thirsk (winner ran a blinder in a listed event here yesterday), the son of Ardad was extremely well supported to use all that natural exuberance to good effect around the sharp nature of the Roodeye, but after slightly missing the break, he could never work himself into a position of strength.
He did, however, come home with a degree of purpose once finally extracting himself from a pocket and with today’s track often a source of complimenting a horse with his run style, this improving sprinter can put himself firmly on the map on the big stage.
SCHRODINGER’S CAT – 1-point each-way@15-2 (five places)
5.10 AINTREE
MASKED DANCE was narrowly denied in her bid to win this race for the second year in succession twelve months ago and arriving here following a run that was designed to blow away the cobwebs, Mel Rowley’s mare can continue her love affair with the Merseyside air.
The daughter of Masked Marvel was returning of a mini break at Haydock recently, so she was entitled to need the run and as events transpired, she did race as though not quite fully dialled in.
Although beaten 20 lengths in the end, there is no real cause for alarm as far as tonight’s prospects are concerned and her bid to stone for last year’s agonising short head loss should end up being a fruitful exercise.
MASKED DANCE – 1-point win@7-2
6.55 AINTREE
ABOUTDAMNTIME left the impression he hit the front too soon at Kelso last time out and now dropping back in trip over today’s flatter track should see the seven-year-old a major threat to all in his bid to go one place better.
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero’s gelding travelled supremely well from an early stage at the Borders venue, and he just basically ran out of opposition to carry him any further when he hit the front fully a mile from home.
Vulnerable to a closer once leaving his chin hanging out, he duly got a proper right-hander in the jaw when the more patiently ridden, Blakey Boy, came and decked him after the last but at least he did hang tough for second which, under the circumstances, still wasn’t a bad effort.
Very good visually and on the clock at Ludlow the time before, the son of Flemensfirth seemed more at home over the easy three miles that day and under similar conditions here tonight, everything should be presented to him perfectly for him to run to maximum capacity.
ABOUTDAMNTIME – 1-point each-way@8-1