Don’t miss Andy Holding’s NAP of the day at Newton Abbot.
16:15 Newton Abbot
BEGIN THE LUCK (NAP) (best price 5-2) has gone close on his last two starts, including over today’s C&D 20 days, and with that narrow margin defeat compensated by a career high speed figure, the eight-year-old can be rewarded with the change of luck he deserves.
Keeping on well to chase home the well backed Rotten Row at Stratford two outings ago, the eight-year-old looked like he was going to immediately lay that ghost to rest when he swept to the front here three weeks later only for the strong finishing Icare Grandchamp to come and pick his pocket close home.
That said, Daisy Hitchens’ inmate did manage to claim the scalps of the in-form pair, Belgarum and American Gerry, and a repeat of that performance along with his soft-ground victory over the same C&D last April regards him as very much the one to beat on his return to the west country venue.
18:25 Killarney
AVATAR JET (best price 11-2) has intimated on his last two starts he has the potential to be a good bit better than his current mark and with tonight’s long straight providing him with ample time to get into top stride, Mark Fahey’s gelding can finally deliver the goods.
Catching the eye with the way he finished off his race over an extended six-furlongs at The Curragh two starts ago, the lightly raced three-year-old was well supported to vindicate the impression he created that day at Cork last time out (12-1 into 10-3) but over a track that often plays into the hands of those ridden towards the front end, his hold up tactics backfired in a major way.
He did, however, once again finish off his race with plenty of purpose and with tonight’s steady climb to the line from three out likely to play into his strengths, the son of Belardo can make his biggest impression so far on just his fourth handicap start.
