DAILY RACING PREVIEW BY ANDY HOLDING
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26
3.10 CURRAGH
Probably not the strongest Group 2 for juveniles ever run and because of that view, it would come as no surprise if TOMMY QUICK could take the huge step forward needed to be competitive.
At first glance, it comes across as a completely foolhardy move by connections to send the son of American Pharoah straight into this level of competition having finished just seventh of 10 in a maiden over today’s course a month ago, but a closer a look into his effort on debut suggests the ideal isn’t utter bonkers.
Although sent off a 50-1 poke at the Kildare venue, he shaped like the nicest horse in the race and if it wasn’t for greenness and the fact he ran up the backside of several dropping back into his lap at the furlong pole, he may have had a say in the outcome.
Whether Joseph O’Brien’s inmate has learnt sufficiently enough in such a short space of time to be effective in a race of this nature only time will tell but the mere fact his handler believes he is worthy of his place is a fair indication of how well he is regarded and the fact Joey Sheridan has chosen him over the better fancied Venetian Power, is another small indication he could run well at a big price.
TOMMY QUICK – ½ point win@20-1
3.40 NEWMARKET
Until the last two renewals of this contest, a high draw was a necessity in this traditional 1m1f cavalry charge down the Rowley Mile but with most of the fancied horses housed towards the nearside, the status quo might well be resumed.
Of those that are draw in the highest stalls, INDALO and ERZINDJAN, second and fourth in last seasons race make the most appeal and they are recommended against the field.
The former only just failed by the bob of a head to overhaul Boiling Point over towards the far side and he has since gone on to prove what a smart horse he is in these sorts of events.
Third in the Hunt Cup was followed by a deserved victory at Sandown, and he might well have followed up in the Golden Mile at Goodwood but for meeting all the trouble going inside the final two furlongs.
Saved for this contest ever since, he comes across as one of the few most likely to run his race.
The latter turned out to be easily the best of those drawn high last season and he too, looks to have been campaign specifically for making amends twelve months on.
Terry Kent’s gelding began the campaign with a degree of intent, landing a competitive handicap over the same C&D in fine style and his creditable sixth in the Hunt Cup was a decent enough effort considering the mile trip was just short of his best.
Never a factor on bad ground at York last time out, he did, however, keep on well from an uncompromising position to be far from disgraced under the circumstances and with connections keen to book the services of Billy Loughnane well in advance, the strong-travelling eight-year-old is fancied to be in the mix.
INDALO – 1-point each-way@9-1 (six places)
ERZINDJAN – 1-point each-way@17-2 (six places)
3.45 CURRAGH
EXCELLENT BELIEVE failed to trouble the judge on his first start for new connections at Leopardstown last time out but there was enough encouragement to warrant giving Stephen Thorne’s gelding another chance he remains a shrewd purchase.
A useful performer when housed in the UK with Mick Channon, the son of Make Believe was quietly fancied to go well at the Dublin-based venue 14 days ago, but as events transpired, he was unable to give of his best.
Noted going well two out, the four-year-old never got any sort of space to get up a head of steam and in the end, he had to settle for a spot just outside the main players.
However, there was enough in that effort to suggest there could be brighter days ahead and with today’s stiffer track likely to see him to better advantage, it would be churlish to leave him out of calculations.
EXCELLENT BELIEVE – 1-point each-way@11-2
3.55 LISTOWEL
SERIENMOND was the chief victim of a huge track bias at Bellewstown last time out and he is worth more than a second look to justify that view on more level playing field.
As the meeting progressed at the Meath venue, it became more obvious the outside of the track was the place to be rather than the chewed-up ground around the inside.
Unfortunately, Gary McGill’s inmate was forced to race on the swamp for the whole of the 2m4f journey but despite this impost, he only just got run out of the argument close home, having cut out a strong pace from the outset.
Clearly running way better than the bare result suggested 31 days ago, he gets another crack at a race of a similar quality and makes plenty of
appeal at the morning odds.
SERIENMOND – ½ point each-way@12-1 (five places)
5.30 MARKET RASEN
The Summer Handicap Hurdle form over today’s C&D might well turn out to be the key form line to this similar prize and INDEMNITY, runner-up back here in July, stakes a strong claim to go one place better on his return to the Lincolnshire track.
In short, Emma Lavelle’s gelding thrives in this sort of environment where his high cruising speed helps him expend less energy than it would in a potentially messy, small-field conditions event and his run here two months ago was further evidence to back up that view.
In retrospect, he almost travelled too well for his own good, hitting the front and being sent for home at the top of the home straight and as events panned out, he ended up being a sitting duck for the strong-finishing, High Fibre, who he was trying to concede the thick end of two stone.
Indeed, the winner has gone on to make a mockery of his mark on the flat since and with many others well beaten down the field going on to advertise the form, a run of a similar level should ensure the six-year-old is competitive once again.
INDEMNITY – 1-point each-way@13-2 (four places)