DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SUNDAY MAY 24
2.45 CURRAGH
MAYFLOWER is becoming a bit of a cliff horse for yours truly but there are more than several reasons for keeping the faith and Steven Thorne’s filly is worth another chance in her bid to leave behind two slightly unlucky runs.
Impressive when landing a maiden on her debut at Leopardstown only her only start last season, things didn’t quite pan out in favour on her return to the Dublin venue on her opening gambit this term (went around the inside on a day when it paid to race towards the nearside rail) and in a similar race here time out, it is fair to say she didn’t receive the most positive of rides.
Allowed to drift right back through the field after jumping well enough, the daughter of Ardad was still in last place going past the intersection but it was noticeable she made up a fair amount of ground down the outside of the field in the latter stages, leaving the impression she was better than the bare result suggested.
Whether that view turns out to be a bit of blind faith, only time will tell, but she now heads into handicap company off a workable mark and with connections clearly believing she is pattern class based on her first two starts, she must be worth a small interest in this sort of grade.
With just seven winners in 136 rides this season, it is also fair to say, Seamie Heffernan being replaced by Jack Kearney might not be a bad thing either.
MAYFLOWER – 1-point each-way@7-1 (four places)
4.12 KELSO
LOOKING SPLENDID ran his usual game race over his favourable track last time out and with his fine second to the useful Breizh River backed up by a career high speed figure, Gary Rutherford’s gelding can prove equally competitive off his revised mark.
The eight-year-old looked to be going as well as anything turning for home 34 days ago but despite keeping on his usual determined fashion, he just couldn’t fashion enough the pace to match the eventual winner.
That said, he did manage to finish miles clear of the rest, backing up the view he had put in a proper shift, and the in-form Dunkerque aside, today’s contest looks eminently winnable.
LOOKING SPLENDID – 1-point win@9-4