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Preview -
04 June 2008
8.20 The Directors Cup Handicap
Class 3 1M Soft
Ratings
Observatory Star – 104 + Exit Smiling – 100 + Wigwam Willie – 98
+ Billy Dane – 97 / Crocodile Bay – 96 - Moheeb – 96 - Vicious
Warrior – 93 + Tenecdeur – 92 -
Horses to Consider
Observatory Star – The ground should
be no problem for this son of Observatory, as he looks to build on
the performances he recorded last season, on what is his seasonal
return to the track. Looks to have more to come under these
conditions, he could carry on his progression in this class 3
handicap, where he is one of just two runners left in this field who
genuinely look like they can hold their own in better quality
handicaps. around what appears quite an exposed bunch for this race
today. He may come on for the run after today’s race and maybe it is
best to wait with the horse until his next run, which could well
come at his ideal course of Redcar, where he finished a eye catching
2nd to Frequency last term. That form really stands out well,
considering that rivals performance in the Zetland Gold Cup the
other week. If fit, he would take all the beating, as he has won at
this track in the past.
Exit Smiling – The ground has come
right for this Newcastle scorer here tonight and that performance on
soft ground over the straight mile should stand him in good stead in
this handicap tonight from the lower half of the handicap. Placed at
this level in the past, he can go one better tonight, with an
assured good gallop on the agenda, for the conditions. He has, in
the past, put up a performance that would have him in with a solid
chance of winning this. He seems to be getting back to his best
these days. He'scapable of better and with an advantage at the
weights with Moheebb, he should confirm that form and hold his own
with the best of these today.
Wigwam Willie – A mile on soft
ground is more then ideal for this horse, whose performance at his
beloved Ayr last season would have him home and hosed in this
tonight. However, his task is made harder at the weights since that
win, and he has suffered for it. The horse needs a return to
confidence, now that the handicapper has dropped him down the
weights again and he should run a big race under these conditions
for Kevin Ryan. This could spark him back to life. He isn’t the most
exposed handicapper considering his age and his performances are
very much ground dependant. A big show seems likely tonight, but he
may have to play second fiddle to the more progressive rival in
Observatory Star in this race.
Verdict – Not a
vintage handicap and one that is lacking in real quality for a class
3 events and the amount of future winners from this handicap at
class 3 level isn’t likely to be many under these conditions.
Crocodile Bay and Billy Dane both look a shade below this level
under these conditions even though their recent effort suggests they
are more then capable of performing at this level. Exit Smiling has
the fitness aspect, while Observatory Star looks the horse with the
most potential in the field but hasn’t had a run, Wigwam Willie is
consistent under these conditions and is weighted to go well if
producing his best but may need a confident booster and with Tim
Easterby runner in the field may find one to strong. However Exit
Smiling catches the eye in this at 12-1 and that for me is a more
then generous price to be involved with.
Selection –
Exit Smiling 1 pt win @ 12-1
(14’sBF)
Best of luck all
Well Chief
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