Dank

1st-Sept-2012

I think that the listed race at Haydock three weeks ago, in which Ladys First beat Dank, could hold the key to this race, there is a good chance that it is the best piece of form on view. There was just three parts of a length between the first two home that day, and there shouldn’t be much between them again today, but I think that Dank can exact her revenge.

Ladys First is a really likeable filly, she is as tough as they make them, she finds lots for pressure, and there is every chance that she would have found more at Haydock had Dank found more. However, Richard Fahey’s filly had the run of the race at Haydock. She had an easy time of it up front, Barry McHugh was able to steal a couple of lengths when he asked his filly to pick up at the top of the home straight, and she is such a courageous battler that she was able to stick to her task well enough to win.

It may all fall into place for Ladys First again today, and she is perfectly-drawn in stall one, which should facilitate Paul Hanagan in adopting similar tactics. However, this is a deeper race and a bigger field, and she may not have it all to herself up front.

The race could be run to suit Dank. Hopefully they will go hard from flagfall, and that should allow Richard Hughes drop her in from her outside draw. She appears to be at her best when held up off a fast pace, as she was when she picked up really impressively to win a good handicap at Ascot at the end of July, and she should have those conditions today.

As well as that, she is lightly-raced, her run behind Ladys First at Haydock was just the fifth run of her life, she has a nice progressive profile, and Sir Michael Stoute’s horses are in top form now after a slow start to the season. Hughes is one for one on her, and she should go close here. She is worth backing at 5/1 or 11/2.

DANK WON (ADV 11/2, SP 7/2)

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