Yesterday’s Review

0.75pt e/way Moonlit Cloud (100) – A decent enough performance from the selection to hit the frame, but I had her running four lengths per mile inferior on the clock to her Nottingham win on Heavy last season. The winner was unexposed, and did it well in the end. Result 2nd 6/1 adv…4/1F SP.

Today’s Advice

Sirjack Thomas & Ramiro (7F hcap) – The (3.45) Naas looks a playable race considering the short priced favourite Mr Rango drops back in trip for a new trainer today on his seasonal debut. A ten mile per hour headwind in the home straight may not be enough to affect conditions today, but it was enough to make me lean more towards the hold up performers. The Ado McGuinness trained Sirjack Thomas may have gone winless over the course of eleven races on Turf since an early victory at The Curragh in May, but there were signs during the season that another win is not too far away. A close up fifth behind Coeur D’Or at The Curragh over a mile in August, and an excellent staying on fourth behind Dragon Of Malta over a sharp seven furlongs at Listowel were indications that a handicap mark in the mid 70’s is one which he can be very competitive off. His form did tail off towards the end of the season, but there was enough to like about his seasonal debut at Dundalk, in a race not run to suit, from a wide draw in stall eleven to suggest that back on turf at a double figure price he is worth keeping onside. Ramiro showed enough last season for Brian Ellison over inadequate trips to command attention when he stepped up to his ideal distance of seven furlongs. Successful from a handicap mark of 78 in the past, he will be worth keeping an eye on for new trainer Miss Hillary McLoughlin this season when conditions are on the slower side. He hasn’t been seen in 93 days since a solid stable debut in a race that wasn’t run to suit behind Little Keilee, and he looks worth a sporting interest with conditions to suit today providing he is race fit.

Perseverants (7F 6Y Hcap) – This Scott Dixon trained six-year-old has shown that his turn may not be far away with a solid performance behind Borgi over the extended mile at Southwell recently. On that occasion he took up the running after three furlongs, and only weakened out of it inside the final furlong to finish fifth beaten just two and a half lengths. Considering his last win was over the extended seven furlongs at Wolverhampton last February, he looks worth a drop back in trip for today’s (4.15) Doncaster. A solid second behind Isla Kai over the mile at Ripon on Soft ground last April would indicate that conditions should be fine for him today. He looks worth keeping an eye on as he has dropped down the handicap to a career low of 74 now.

Angel On Fire (7F Hcap) – This five-year-old has put together some consistent efforts towards the back-end of last season since dropped to a career low handicap mark of 39 over the extended seven furlongs at Bellewstown in September. A win off a handicap mark of 48 at Gowran Park over the extended mile on Heavy ground yielded a career best speed figure of (101), and he was noted putting in solid late work from a wide draw at Galway over seven furlongs last October before being badly hampered in his run near the finish. A seasonal blow out over six furlongs at The Curragh on Monday should have put him on track for another decent season ahead, and he looks worth an interest for today’s (4.55) Naas. It may be that he is at his best towards the back-end of the season, but I am willing to give him a chance to prove that wrong as he hasn’t had much racing at this time of the year in the past.

0.5pt e/way Sirjack Thomas (14/1 William Hill/Betfred/Boyles 5 places) 3.45 Naas

0.5pt e/way Ramiro (9/1 Betfred/Boyles, 8/1 Unibet 5 places) 3.45 Naas

0.75pt e/way Perseverants (13/2 William Hill, 6/1 General) 4.15 Doncaster

0.75pt e/way Angel On Fire (15/2 General 4 places) 4.55 Naas