DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY JULY 18
2.10 MARKET RASEN
There are many good judges around suggesting Louis Veron could well be thrown in off his opening mark of 124 and if so, Dan Skelton’s gelding could well be impossible to beat.
However, he hasn’t escaped the attentions of the layers over the last few days, and the better value option could well turn out to be MOON CHIME, who at least we know has all the right credentials for a race of this nature.
The eight-year-old proved to be a revelation in the first-time tongue-tie in the valuable Swinton hurdle back in May and he went on to show that performance was no fluke when equally impressive on the Flat at Kempton a few weeks later.
Off for two months, presumably today’s assignment has been the plan ever since and with good ground in his favour, the son of Pether’s Moon is fancied to hit the frame at the very least.
MOON CHIME – ½ point each-way@12-1 (four places)
3.05 NEWMARKET
REVOIR has hit the woodwork quite a bit in recent times but as all her performances keep showing up favourably on the data, Ralph Beckett’s filly is worth another chance in her bid to have her consistency rewarded.
Placed in three pattern races last season, the daughter of Study of Man has had the misfortune to follow the same trends on two starts this term, but it is hard to knock her application to the job at hand, particularly her latest effort at Pontefract when she chased home the hugely progressive, Coedana.
Trapped in a pocket when the eventual winner swooped over the top of her on the home turn at the Yorkshire venue, she picked up the gauntlet to chase her main rival hard all the way to the line and it easy to draw to the conclusion she was slightly unlucky the way events panned out.
However, she did post her biggest speed figure so far to date in defeat and providing they go a similar gallop here today, she has ever chance of gaining compensation.
REVOIR – 1-point win@11-4
3.25 CURRAGH
COVER UP was one of several hard luck stories in the King Charles at Royal Ascot and with today’s race likely to set up for his usual late finish, Simon & Ed Crisford’s gelding can gain some sort of compensation.
Twice the eight-year-old was the ‘Johnny come lately’ to proceedings over in Dubai this winter and he may have grabbed a large slice of the pie at the Berkshire venue a month ago had he not run into a wall of horses dropping back into his lap inside the final furlong.
If today’s script goes to plan, the likes of Jakajaro and Partisan Hero will not want to die not knowing and all his best speed figures over the minimum trip point towards him thriving in such an environment.
COVER UP – ½ point each-way@9-1
3.37 NEWBURY
A typically wide open-looking renewal of this valuable juvenile sprint but both SKY SECRET and ANGELS LANE come across as having enough ability to make some sort of impact.
The former hasn’t been out since landing a Leicester maiden in some style back in May and presumably connections resisted the temptation to head to Royal Ascot with a view to coming here fresh and well.
The speed figure he posted in victory at the midland venue suggested he is very fast and this sharp five-furlongs should allow him every chance of providing Clive Cox with another notable two-year-old winner this season.
The latter has just had the one run, so is a little trickier to assess, but the number she posted at Chepstow also suggests she is no slouch.
A big, leggy filly, her pedigree suggests the soft ground she encountered on debut might not have been to her benefit, so there is every chance she might improve even further for today’s quicker terrain.
SKY SECRET – ½ point each-way@15-2 (five places)
ANGELS LANE – ½ point each-way@14-1 (five places)
7.15 DONCASTER
WILDE AND DANDY came back into the fray from a 147-dat break to run as well as he ever has at Yarmouth last time out and this previous C&D winner looks to hold bright prospects in his bid to add to his fine track tally.
Although he couldn’t quite peg back the in-form Dion Baker at the seaside venue, he did well to finish as close as he did under the circumstances and his speed figure went a long way to rubberstamp his effort.
Often slowly away, a typically tardy start didn’t prevent him from scoring here for the second time last August and he rates one of the strongest bets on the day based on a multitude of factors.
WILDE AND DANDY – 1-point each-way@9-2