DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY AUGUST 8
1.35 ASCOT
The brilliantly-named BOLO NEIGHS gave out plenty of positive signs for the future with an eye-catching performance over today’s course last time out and he rates a reasonably confident choice to back up his previous C&D win earlier in the season.
Dropped back to the minimum trip for the first time since his two-year-old days, the four-year-old found himself in an uncompromising position as a result of a slow start and being slightly outpaced early but finishing strongest of all, he came home to best effect to be best of those drawn towards the unfavoured nearside rail.
On the evidence of that display, and particularly the one behind the improving Amazing Journey again over the C&D, a return to his optimum distance will not go amiss and with top-class assistance from the saddle, Ralph Beckett’s inmate can provide team Europe with valuable early points on the board.
BOLO NEIGHS – 1-point each-way@9-2
2.45 ASCOT
NIGHT BREEZE is holding his form together nicely despite being fairly industrious of late and following another creditable effort in a hot handicap at Goodwood last week, Ian Williams’ gelding has enough in his favour for him to warrant support in his bid to win this race for the second year running.
Down in trip at the Sussex venue, the son of New Approach travelled well enough throughout the first mile of the 1m2f journey but he became short of room over towards the far side rail at a crucial stage and he didn’t quite have the acceleration of the winner, Al Aali, to extricate himself from the pocket soon enough.
He did, however, come home in quite taking fashion once out in the clear and with today’s extra two furlongs likely to provide him with more time to gather his thoughts, the five-year-old can add to his excellent track stats that currently read 121.
NIGHT BREEZE – 1-point win@11-4
4.40 HAYDOCK
ARCTIC THUNDER wouldn’t be advisable for those with nervous disposition but he has enough ability to feature in a race of this nature and his morning odds far outweigh the risks.
A horse who could give Uncle Albert a fair run for his money in hard luck stories, Ed Walker’s inmate finally gained his due rewards for his patience – not to mention the punters who kept the faith – when scoring in tidy fashion at Salisbury last time out and even though it was only a four-runner race, the time figure he posted was right up there with some of his previous best.
Considering he won by seven lengths too, he did well to escape with just a 7lb adjustment in his rating and having been extremely unlucky on his previous visit to the Merseyside track, the five-year-old arrives here in the sort of form that suggests he is capable of righting those wrongs.
ARCTIC THUNDER – ½ point each-way@7-1 (four places)