Yesterday’s Review

0.75pt e/way Volendam (96) – Not much pace on for the selection to aim at but she was still given a fine ride by Joanna Mason to get cover and have every chance in the home straight. It looked like she might prevail at one stage but the winner travelled strongly in behind and just did enough at the finish (as she is not one you can put under maximum pressure). Result 2nd 12/1 adv…6/1 SP (Rule 4 10p).

0.75pt e/way Bay Of Supremacy (96) – A shocking performance from the selection who was a long way off his recent best. Even if we allow Bellewstown form to stay at Bellewstown he was still 4 lengths per mile off his third place finish at Navan while carrying 8lb less. He goes well fresh as well, as he had won off a 40 day break last season at Naas. Perhaps a flat, wide open track like today’s is not for him. Too bad to be true.

Today’s Advice

STORMING DRAGON (6f Hcap) – Giant Ballon looks to record his fourth win on the bounce in the (3.15) Happy Valley and his followers will be very hopeful of another strong performance from the front runner drawn in stall one. With the ground currently advertised as Good to Yielding with a bit of rain around the short price favourite might not be seen at his strongest considering his best form has been shown on a decent surface. Although drawn out wide in stalls ten and twelve there is also pace pressure from Sky Cap and Telecom Fighters to consider.

The selection is one of the few with decent form on a softish surface having won and been placed on a similar surface to today’s back in November 2024 and June of last year behind Storm Rider. Having reached a career high of 75 in the handicap last season his form had been quiet until he returned to form last month when winning a Class 4 handicap over course and distance from a wide draw in stall eleven finishing a length clear of Cloud Nine. The form has been franked by Motor since and the handicapper has raised him 7lb for that performance. A kinder draw in stall three today should make things easier. It was also encouraging to see him travel supremely well in the finish of a recent trial on the turf at Conghua to finish comfortably in fourth place a length behind Outgate. He is usually rousted along early doors and if Alexis Badel can get him into a nice rhythm he might give the favourite something to think about in the finish.

1.5pts e/way Storming Dragon (5/1 Paddy Power, Skybet 4 places, 3 places general) 3.15 Happy Valley