DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
FRIDAY JULY 24
2.20 ASCOT
ASH TREE created a very favourable impression when scoring at the first time of asking at Nottingham and she rates a strong choice in her bid to see off the challenge of Newmarket eyecatcher, Sorrengail.
Well touted prior to facing the starter at the Midland venue, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s filly was a little caught on heels and green during the early stages, but she soon cottoned on to what was required and by the time the field had entered the final furlong, she was well on top.
Hitting the line hard, the daughter of Blue Point posted a very smart speed figure for a debutante and with the runner-up going on to boost the form since, confidence is high she can follow suit over a track that should see her to even greater advantage.
ASH TREE – 1-point win@7-2
5.32 YORK
ALPHA CAPTURE just found one too good in the shape of the improving Return Of The Gods at Doncaster last time out but time may tell his performance was not to be sniffed at and back at the track where he was successful on his only previous visit, Roger Fell’s gelding can return to winning ways.
The six-year-old was a warm order to follow up his previous C&D victory on Town Moor and he did very little wrong in his bid to justify favouritism, travelling well throughout only to get touched off in a head-bobbing finish.
Posting a career high speed figure by some margin, he clearly remains in super shape and with another well-run affair over the seven-furlong journey likely to play into his strengths, it would be disappontig if he wasn’t bang in the mix.
ALPHA CAPTURE – 1-point each-way@4-1 (five places)
7.30 SANDOWN
CRISTO narrowly failed in his bid to follow up his previous success over today’s C&D at Windsor last time out, but it was another solid effort by Richard Hannon’s in-form miler and a return to the Esher venue can reap maximum rewards.
Not the easiest of customers, the four-year-old’s application couldn’t be faulted when gaining an overdue victory here a month ago and he looked for all the world as though he was about to repeat the dose at the Berkshire venue 10 days later, only for events to go against him close home.
Picking up the running over a furlong from home, his main rival Kalokalo proceeded to shift to the left and that caused a knock-on effect to the son of Havana Grey and, as a result, he left the door wide open for Bold Impact to come burrowing up the inside fence to nail him on the line.
Up against a couple of in-form three-year-olds, Cristo can’t afford any complacency on his latest assignment but in the hope his superior time figures up to now and track knowledge count for plenty, he is worth keeping on side.
CRISTO – 1-point win@2-1