DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19
1.02 NEWBURY
REDORANGE has looked good this season when conditions have been in his favour and based on events that took place here yesterday, everything appears perfect for Clive Cox’s inmate to dominate this field.
It is no coincidence that both his two victories have come when the ground has been fast and in particularly, the speed figure he posted at York two starts ago was by some way a career high.
Back on the Knavesmire to tackle Group 1 company last time out, both the draw (high) and deteriorating ground counted heavily against his chances but despite the negatives, he didn’t run too badly in the circumstances, running on nicely after getting slam dunked over a furlong from home.
Clearly, he remains in good form on the evidence of that display and with Miss Yerchance likely to act as a target for him to aim towards over the far side, the four-year-old can end his season on a high.
REDORANGE – 1-point win@7-2
1.50 NEWMARKET
STORMY MUSIC wasn’t seen to best effect in a tactical mess of a race on the July course last time out but in the hope today’s contest pans out a little more favourably, Andrew Balding’s filly can replicate her previous victory over the same C&D.
The daughter of Night Of Thunder was well supported to follow up what was an impressive success both visually and, on the clock, when upped to a mile on her first visit to HQ, but when she returned there a few weeks later, the slow pace meant the race developed into a sprint from two out – which didn’t play into her strengths.
Off for just over a month, she looks to have been found a decent opportunity to strike back to form and with Food For Thought likely to ensure the gallop is honest, she can reward each-way support.
STORMY MUSIC – 1-point win@10-3
2.30 AYR
As usual, the draw is likely to play a significant role in the outcome of the two big sprints races here this afternoon (wasn’t conclusive here yesterday in Bronze Cup) and with most of the fancied horses drawn middle to low, TOYOTOMI should get the perfect tow into the contest from his stall position to be competitive at the business end.
The foundations of him being such a strong choice to land this prize comes from his massively eye-catching run in the Bold Lad Sprint at The Curragh last weekend and if that performance ends up being a guide to his current wellbeing, he is going to take plenty of stopping here this afternoon.
Held up in mid-division at the Kildare venue, the five-year-old was full of running heading down to the two-furlong pole, but from that juncture, he kept heading down a dead end looking for space that was non-existent.
However, the way he finished off his race once out in the clear suggested he would have easily taken a hand in the outcome and with his favoured soft ground fallen just right for him, only being drawn on the wrong side of the track can prevent him from making amends.
TOYOTOMI – 1-point each-way@4-1 (six places)
3.40 AYR
Ideally, you are probably looking towards those who have the speed to hold their positions for six furlongs and the stamina for seven and the two that fit that criteria nicely are RED SPELLS DANGER and ARDESIA.
The former has cut his teeth in many of the big sprint handicaps so far this season and it was only his last run at York when he failed to feature.
Through no fault of his own, he never saw any daylight towards the stands side rail on the Knavesmire but prior to that unlucky episode, the son of Cotai Glory had taken the notable scalps of Thunder Call and Grasmere Boy at Ascot, who have both gone on to land decent prizes since.
Although six-furlongs is definitely his favoured trip, the fact he ran so well over further on soft ground here last season as a juvenile adds another positive angle to his profile and, providing he ends up being on the right side of the track, Tim Easterby’s gelding can add to his form figures in races of this nature that read 1124510.
The latter also has form over seven furlongs, but it is her last two performances over today’s trip that catches the eye and point towards a big run forthcoming from Hugo Palmer’s filly.
The daughter of Ardad kept on well to finish a creditable fourth in a well-run listed contest at Chester two starts ago and she bettered that position when runner-up at Goodwood last time out, coming out the best of those housed towards the stands side rail.
A winner of a competitive C&D handicap at this meeting last season, she clearly arrives here in decent shape, and soft ground will hold no fears based on her overall profile.
RED SPELLS DANGER – ½ point each-way@22-1 (six places)
ARDESIA – ½ point each-way@25-1 (six places)