DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
THURSDAY AUGUST 6
6.35 LEOPARDSTOWN
An eclectic mix of older, established performers against a couple of useful three-year-olds clash in this Group 3 and of those in the former category, GREEN IMPACT makes the most appeal at the prices based on his overall body of work.
There are several reasons why Jessica Harrington’s colt comes into the equation here, but most predominately, it’s his record at today’s track, which currently reads 3-3, that really catches the eye.
Since the last of his trio of wins at the Dublin venue last June, the son of Wootton Bassett has been in choppy waters, most namely against the likes of Lambourn in last season’s Irish Derby and Almaqam and Bay City Roller in the Skybet York Stakes.
Finding the ground too soft for his liking on his opening gambit at the Curragh back in April, he returned to the Kildare circuit to finish an honourable fourth to his same old rivals in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup and with today’s opposition representing a significant drop off in quality to what he has faced in recent times, there is every reason to feel upbeat about his prospects of returning to winning ways back at his happy hunting ground.
GREEN IMPACT – 1-point each-way@10-1
7.23 SANDOWN
THURSDAY GIRL arrives here following a hard-fought success at Nottingham last time out and having already got the better of tonight’s favourite, Ascending Star, on their previous encounter, the combination of the two factors makes her the value option on her return to the Esher slopes.
Ed Walker’s filly waged war with her old rival a long way from home over the C&D 34 days ago and although she eventually got the better of the keen-going front runner, she was ultimately picked off by the more patiently ridden, Cristo.
Extremely well supported to go one place better at the Midland venue last month, she just about had enough in reserve to fend off the late challenge of Moonlit Surf having cut out strong fractions from the front and it is interesting to note her handicap mark of 76 hasn’t been adjusted.
Whether that leniency works to her advantage only time will tell but either way, she is a tough, likeable filly with a sound appetite for the game and that fact she has already galloped on strongly up tonight’s hill in a fast-run race is sure to stand her in good stead in the final analysis.
THURSDAY GIRL – 1-point win@9-2
7.30 SLIGO
LILAC LADY finally came good at the 23rd time of asking over today’s C&D last time out and with the first-time tongue-tie likely to have been a major contributory factor in that breakthrough success, the locally trained mare can carry forward her new-found confidence in her bid to repeat the dose.
Mark McNiff’s mare had run well on her two previous outings at the Cleveragh Road venue, leaving the impression her time wasn’t too far away and true enough, under a positive ride from the front 25 days ago, she had her consistency rewarded with a three-length success.
On balance, tonight’s assignment looks tougher on paper, but she does have knowledge of the track like no other and another aggressive ride could easily reap similar benefits.
LILAC LADY – 1-point each-way@13-2