Friday, 27 July 2018: Previews and tips for Singapore racing and Kranji Friday July 27

Lord O'Reilly

RACE 1
NOVA CLASSIC (3) – Pacy sort who will be hard to run down if he takes the race by the scruff of the neck from the get-go. Has a nice barrier to do so. Will take some beating if he gets to stack up the speed.
HOOGA NET (2) – Dug down deep to open his account at his third start when sporting blinkers for first time. Reverts to turf. Has trained on and is worth backing again.
PACIFIC OCEAN (7) – Look out for this son of Pins. Has not shown much in six starts, but has not been beaten far off either. Blinkers on and marble one. Can surprise.
MOMENT OF JUSTICE (4) – Back in trip and class. Decent claims if they roll along. Booking of Vlad Duric is a good pointer of his chances.

RACE 2
OUR SHOWCASE (1) – Was no match for the winner but boxed on stoutly for second placing to suggest a win can come at short notice.
CRACKING TOTTIE (9) – She is back from a break and this is her last chance saloon as a 3YO to grab one of these races. She has been there or thereabouts. Two handy enough trials.
PADDINGTON (6) – Lined up for an ORT Trial and looked good enough and forward enough for a bold showing in this race.
MR ROCKWELL (12) – Performed nicely in a recent trial and has only a weight of 49kgs. With barrier No 1, plenty to like about his chances.

RACE 3
REDOUBT (1) – Having his second run for the Lee Freedman stable. Won a trial recently and the 1600m should suit.
FIRST LIGHT (2) – Ran on well enough last start but never looked like winning and steps to the mile for the first time.
PARADOR (7) – Runner-up last start after settling a long way back but was seen running on strongly in the straight.
NORTHERN KNIGHT (8) – He hasn’t won for a long, long time but two good runs recently suggest he should be a player.

RACE 4
REIGN (2) – Showed a nice turn of foot at last two starts. Back on turf, but will appreciate the step-up to 1400m. Drawn off the track but it’s okay as he gets back. Leading hope.
MY FRIENDS (8) – A touch disappointing at his second run. Had every chance but did not accelerate as expected. Trialled well on July 10. Steps up in distance. Low draw is a big plus.
SHREDDER (9) – Made some headway late in the piece on debut in a 1000m speed dash. Seven furlongs will suit the son of Street Cry better. Shades replace earmuffs and the good barrier helps his cause, too. Each-way chance.
GINGERMAN (6) – No placing in eight starts, but has been in the mix on a few occasions. Looks safely held here, but he may just be able to sneak into the minors with the switch back to 1400m on turf. Crossover noseband off.

RACE 5
BIG BANKER (1) – Arrives back into Class 5 in what looks to be a suitable race for him. Last victory was at 1700m in Class 5 off 43 points, June 2017. He is only one of two horses to win at this distance.
LET’S TALK NOW (3) – Ran a decent race when last presented after settling last and storming home to be only beaten 1.6L.
MONGOLIAN CHIEF (4) – Has placed in three of four runs at this distance. Ran into trouble last start which was costly for him.
GRAND PARIS (10) – A horse that is never sighted early in the run until the straight, like last time when he finished strongly into third.

RACE 6
HERO STAR (4) – Has been in the market the last few runs. Rider reported the horse was not striding freely but nothing significant was found. May pay to follow.
SUN EMPIRE (11) – Scratched from last weekend’s meeting but this looks to be an attractive option for him being turf over 1400m.
CLASSIC (3) – Has been somewhat out of form recently but he has a handy enough record over this distance. Could be value.

MUSCULAR DRAGON (12) – Good effort in Class 5 company to win at this distance last start. The old cliché winning form is good form, especially in this tricky race.

RACE 7
SANDTOP (11) – Hard to ignore after his win last Sunday at this trip. Looking to cash in again if he backs up.
SONG TO THE MOON (2) – Was great to see him back in winning form with Nooresh Juglall up. Two-time winner this trip.
GOLAZO (3) – Can be sometimes hard to follow but was good last start when third. Has placed this trip a couple of times.
ERAGON (1) – Didn’t show a lot in his first-up performance but has since trialled nicely with blinkers on. Long shot in this.

RACE 8
LORD O’REILLY (4) – Hard to get past Lord O’Reilly on his last-start flying finish. Has put the Singapore Guineas run behind. Prefers a firm track. Ryan Curatolo gets back on. Major chance.
ARC TRIUMPH (3) – Strung up two wins in a row after pacifiers were dropped. In sparkling form but faces a slightly stiffer task this time, especially from the wide barrier. Will still be thereabouts when the whips are cracking.
MR HANKS (2) – Former top juvenile who has bounced back to form. First Polytrack test but seems to work well on it. Barrier No 2 and Simon Kok Wei Hoong’s four-kilo claim help. Include in calculations.
CLARTON TREASURE (5) – Unbeaten in two runs but in weaker company. This is harder but he is a progressive sort and should be able to measure up.

RACE 9
HYDE PARK (1) – Found the opposition tougher at his last start when risen to Class 3. Eased back in Class 4 Non Premier company. Should be more competitive. Will be dangerous if he can cross early from his wide alley.
BRINGER OF WAR (6) – Has done okay in three runs from a five-month layoff. Close to her best and must take her into consideration from now on.
EL TORDILLO (7) – Seems to do better on Polytrack, but this is a moderate field. Won’t surprise if he takes a hand in the finish in this.
TURF CHAMPION (2) – Drops back in trip and company. Will find this too sharp, but if they set a strong face upfront, he may be the fresh horse on the scene.