The Daily Yankee
NAP OF THE DAY: Strong Johnson, (1545 Curragh), 1pt win, 9/2:
A cracking handicap in which top weight Urban Beat and runaway Tipperary winner Jungle Jane are respected. However, Strong Johnson was an easy winner here recently, and with the runner up having won easily since, the 9lb rise may not be enough to catch his progress. He goes on any ground, and jockey Keane is riding with huge confidence.
Overwrite, (1535 Windsor), 5/1: has work to do with Jean Baptiste on their seasonal debut efforts at Newcastle, but this track could play better to his prominent racing style. Certainly showed improvement to be an excellent 6th in the Britannia at Ascot, and with Atzeni an eye-catching booking he looks a value option.
Alignak, (1630 Newmarket), 4/1: has plenty to find with favourite First In Line, but this trip increasingly looks a minimum for that horse, and Alignak is very muck on the upgrade based on his excellent reappearance win at Newcastle. Trainer Stoute does very well with these types, and it looks significant that he ignores a still-attractive handicap mark to shoot for this greater prize.
De Name Escapes Me, (1745 Curragh), 8/1: very much the veteran here as a 10yo, but very lightly raced on the flat and never at this distance which should suit him well. If this were a hurdle race, where many of these are more familiar faces, Sharjah would be thrown in – but he has disappointed on the flat before. Next best in on hurdles ratings would be De Name Escapes Me and his flat form is much more encouraging. Probably would prefer softer ground, but there are plenty of strong Summer showers in the forecast, and he looks hugely overpriced.
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