10th-Jul-2010

Side Glance is over-priced for this at 8/1, and he is worth backing at that. Andrew Balding’s gelding has run remarkably well on his last two runs over six furlongs, in two really hot handicaps. He just got outpaced in the Coral Sprint at Newmarket at the end of May before staying on well, giving the impression that he was crying out for a step back up to seven furlongs, and he ran a cracker last time in the Reg Griffin Memorial Trophy at York, travelling well for much of the race, but just getting done for toe when they quickened before keeping on to finish fifth.

He did pull hard the last time he raced over seven furlongs, but that was on soft ground at Salisbury when they went no pace at all, and it is legitimate to hope that he will settle better than he did then, for all that they will probably go slower over seven furlongs than he has been used to of late over six. David Probert rode him for the first time in a race at York last time, and he is back on board today, which is a positive.

Man Of Action and Citrus Star are both dangers. Man Of Action is highly progressive, and an 8lb hike for his latest win at Newmarket may not be enough to check his progress, while Citrus Star ran remarkably well to finish fourth in a good handicap at Epsom on Derby weekend over this trip after missing the break. Both are nice horses, but Side Glance is the value for me at 8/1.

SIDE GLANCE WON (ADV 8/1 [R4], SP 9/2)