Tag: Sandown

Sandown Thursday Preview

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The pick of the action in the UK on Thursday comes from Sandown’s evening fixture with a six race card starting at 5.40.

The most interesting event on the card is the handicap for three-year-olds at 7.25 over ten furlongs. Several of these have plenty of room for improvement with three of them having won last time out. John Gosden’s Prince Of Stars has been notable by his absence since winning at Chester back in May and has been well supported in the early skirmishes for his handicap debut.

He didn’t beat much at Chester and the Wood Ditton form has taken a few knocks so he is passed over at odds of around 5-2. Mythical Madness won a poor race last time and Hoop Of Colour overcame trouble in running to win a five-runner race at Pontefract. He is up a few pounds but the form of Lady Cecil’s stable does not inspire confidence.

Luca Cumani’s Comedy King is probably better than he showed last time out while Hedge End is incredibly consistent but has not won since December. She finished well at Goodwood last week behind Magique and runs off the same mark here. She seems to try her heart out and is the each-way selection in a tricky contest.

Roger Charlton’s Tides Reach is a bit of a puzzler in the closing handicap. She has always looked more of a soft ground filly but won by eight lengths at Windsor on good to firm last time out. I think she was flattered by the runner-up having been virtually eased to a walk by Richard Hughes at the line and she is worth opposing.

I have been impressed by the way in which Silvestre De Sousa has kept his head down after the poor treatment he received from Godolphin. He teams up with Unison who has run a couple of solid races and should go close here. He is closely weighted with Sweet Martoni but can just sneak it.

Over at Brighton, I think Lear’s Rock can improve on his debut fourth at Sandown and may be good enough to beat Hawkmeister. Richard Hannon’s runner is fitted with the blinkers here after a disappointing run at Lingfield last time out. Azmaam’s run at Sandown last time is best forgotten after a tardy start and he showed enough on his debut to win Haydock’s 2.40 race.

Lear’s Rock 3.20 Brighton

Azmaam 2.40 Haydock

Hedge End (each-way) 7.25 Sandown at 7-1 BetVictor

Unison 8.25 Sandown at 5-1 Paddy Power

Sandown Saturday Preview

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It is Coral Eclipse day at Sandown on Saturday. I previewed the race earlier in the week and sided with The Fugue in view of doubts surrounding the participation of many of her rivals. It is pouring down with rain up here in Scotland but apparently they are still basking in warm sunshine down south and the going remains good to firm.

Roger Varian is evidently keen to run Derby runner-up Kingston Hill after pulling him out of the farcical Irish Derby at the last moment. You can understand the need to be careful with these top-notch horses but it will be very puzzling if he lets him run on quick ground this weekend. Sceptics are focussing on the fact that The Fugue finished last in the Eclipse a year ago but she arrives in the form of her life this season and it doesn’t worry me.

The best bet on the card may be Queen Catrine in the Coral Distaff at 3.15. I had not realised what a fine race she ran in the Sandringham Handicap until I watched a re-run. Jamie Spencer had her plum last of 24 runners and she managed to overhaul everything bar the winner Muteela. I have been following Radiator with interest and she ran a fair race when eighth in the Coronation but she strikes me as a bit keen in her races and this small field may cause James Doyle problems.

I have never done particularly well in the Coral Challenge Handicap but I’m tempted to have a small each-way investment on Burano here for Brian Meehan. He was running well in Dubai through the winter and early spring and has had no luck at all since returning to these shores. The most significant snippet is that he is almost a stone better off with Gabrial’s Kaka for under five lengths on their Newbury Spring Cup form.

The Coral Charge could go the way of Stepper Point who just gets the vote ahead of Extortionist. This track suits front runners in sprints and Stepper Point had everything in trouble at Royal Ascot after three furlongs. I am concerned that he has had a series of hard races but these sprinters are as tough as old boots.

Finally, I’m taking a chance on course winner Reedcutter bouncing back to form in the opener. He pulled too hard and then ran into a pocket last time so did well to get within six lengths. This shorter trip should be in his favour and Richard Hughes is doing the steering.

Reedcutter 1.30 Sandown

Stepper Point 2.05 Sandown at 11-2 BetVictor

Burano 2.40 Sandown at 14-1 BetVictor

Queen Catrine 3.15 Sandown at 2-1 Skybet

The Fugue 3.50 Sandown at 9-4 William Hill

Coral Eclipse Preview

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The Irish Derby was void as a contest when Roger Varian pulled out Epsom runner-up Kingston Hill and the colt could be re-routed to the Coral Eclipse on Saturday. Commentators did their best to convince us that Australia was the best thing since sliced bread but he beat a couple of stable hacks in a virtual exercise gallop. I know that the horse could only beat what was lined up against him but it is ridiculous to keep hyping him up.

The Derby form proved disastrous last year and hopefully this year’s will prove stronger. At the time of writing, the sun is blazing down and there must be a real possibility of fast ground again at Sandown. Sir Michael Stoute has already suggested that Hillstar may miss the race for that very reason and I would not be surprised to see Kingston Hill do likewise.

One horse that won’t mind it fast is John Gosden’s admirable mare The Fugue. She will be racing over her best trip on ground that she loves (barring a change in the weather) and she was at her best when bolting up at Royal Ascot in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes.

The form of that race is open to question with Treve disappointing but The Fugue reversed Breeders’ Cup form with Magician and could be called the winner with two furlongs to travel. She is on offer at around 15-8 but could be closer to evens if more rivals drop by the wayside during the week. Last season she won the Yorkshire Oaks and the Irish Champion Stakes and can add another Group 1 to John Gosden’s collection.

It is always interesting to see how the three-year-old’s get on in this race and War Command is a possible runner for Aidan O’Brien. He ran on steadily without ever looking dangerous in the St James’s Palace Stakes and has a bit of ground to make up on runner-up Night Of Thunder. The extra two furlongs should favour him more than the Hannon horse but he does seem to have lost the sparkle of his Coventry Stakes win.

O’Brien also saddles American import Verrazano who was second to Toronado in the Queen Anne. He ought to get the trip having won over nine furlongs in the States but I didn’t think it was a particularly strong race at Ascot and I’m not sure he has a real turn of foot.

The Fugue at 9-4 BetVictor, Coral

Sandown Saturday Preview

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Sandown’s Saturday card gets under way at 1.50 with a nine furlong handicap for three-year-olds. The one we want to be on here is Sir Michael Stoute’s Gothic who looked a little unlucky at Goodwood last time out.

Ryan Moore had him tucked in on the rail as they turned for home and, as often happens at Goodwood, he had difficulty getting a clear run. After switching out and then back again, Gothic flew home to finish only a length behind Solo Hunter. That was a big improvement on his first run of the season where he seemed to get bogged down here in the race won by Windshear.

His dam Riberac was a real battler and Gothic looks to have inherited those qualities. Hopefully Moore can give him a better sight of the front on this occasion. The most dangerous rival may be course winner Reedcutter who beat Cape Icon and the disappointing Provenance last time. He was always travelling comfortably in front and it is difficult to know how much he had to spare.

The one-mile handicap at 2.20 looks virtually impossible to call with several last-time-out winners. St Moritz appears to have been galvanised by a visor and has bolted up in his last two outings. The handicapper has taken a dim view of his most success by lumping him up 12lbs but it is worth mentioning that he is still 17lbs lower than his career best figure.

Richard Hannon’s Aertex is seeking a fourth win on the bounce in the 4.05 and looks well up to the task. She was given a fair bit to do by Richard Hughes at Newbury last time but came through strongly to beat Token Of Love. The form was boosted today by the fourth Cay Dancer, a stable companion of the winner.

The biggest threat could come from Captain Bob who looked set to score at Chester in May before hanging away from the rail in the home straight. Had he kept straight, he could possibly have held on and he now drops back a furlong in trip.

The maiden race at 4.40 looks packed full of promise with the Newbury race won by Second Step coming under the spotlight. Kings Fete (fourth), Fastnet Red (fifth) and Jonny Rae (sixth) all ran well that day but preference is for Sir Michael Stoute’s colt who was not touched with the whip and finished only a length down at the line.

Gothic 1.50 Sandown at 5-2 William Hill

St Moritz 2.20 Sandown at 7-1 BetBright

Aertex 4.05 Sandown at 9-4 Boylesports

Kings Fete 4.40 Sandown

 

 

 

York Friday Preview

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John Gosden came to our rescue again on Thursday when Eastern Belle won the Listed race at Newbury. Unfortunately his runner in the handicap could not land the double but the early 7-2 was enough to keep our noses in front.

It is all about quantity rather than quality at York on Friday with the usual mixture of maiden races and wide open handicaps. Not surprisingly, the top yards are keeping their powder dry for Royal Ascot next week.

There are still some promising types on show in the mile and a quarter three-year-old handicap at 2.30 and preference is just for Richard Hannon’s Tabreek. The chestnut colt has only raced twice, following up his promising debut run at the Craven meeting with a victory at Newmarket the following month.

He was forced to battle hard to fend off the persistent challenge of Venezia by a neck but both look capable of winning their share of races. The early money has been for Luca Cumani’s Newmarket winner Connecticut who is an obvious threat while Arabian Comet is on a hat-trick after winning a couple of minor contests.

True Pleasure looks generously priced as she bids for a hat-trick in the 3.40 race. She is one of four last time out winners in the field and ought to be well exposed at the age of seven. However, I liked the style of her win at Catterick last time and she is worth a bet at double-figure odds.

The big danger is probably Dusky Queen who represents the Richard Fahey – Ryan Moore combination. She is already a course and distance winner although she had precious little to spare.

The pick of the action over at Sandown is the fillies handicap at 3.15 with Token Of Love expected to make up for her Newbury defeat. It was a messy race won by Aertex and she will not have been suited by the slow early pace. The field spread across the track when the pace quickened and she was doing all of her best work at the finish.

The danger here is the improving Ghinia who bolted up at Newmarket despite hanging away from the whip. The handicapper has put her up 8lbs and that may just be enough to give Token Of Love the edge.

Tabreek 2.30 York at 11-2 BetBright

True Pleasure 3.40 York at 11-1 Bet Victor, Coral

Token Of Love 3.15 Sandown 11-8 Stan James

Sandown Thursday Preview

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There is a good card at Sandown on Thursday night with the Brigadier Gerard Stakes topping the bill. Although there are only five runners, it still looks a bit of a puzzle.

Hillstar is the obvious choice after running a fair second to Brown Panther in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. That race was over a mile and five furlongs on soft ground so this drop back to a mile and quarter is interesting. I’ve never really been a fan of Hillstar but this looks as soft a Group 3 as you could come across and he must go close under Ryan Moore.

Top Notch Tonto will find his stamina tested here while Sheikhzayedroad and Sharestan have had their limitations exposed. The one horse that has the potential to develop into a genuine Group 1 performer is Remote, trained by John Gosden. He did this column a favour last season at Royal Ascot but has not raced since and that is a major worry. No doubt Mr G will tell anyone who asks that he will need the run but I’m inclined to chance it at around 4-1.

The second Group 3 on the card is the Henry II Stakes with several Gold Cup entries on show. Brown Panther won the Goodwood Cup and was eighth in Melbourne. The trip and ground won’t worry him and he is as honest as the day is long. Tiger Cliff was third in the Yorkshire Cup but they went no great gallop that day and I wouldn’t be certain of him confirming the form with either High Jinx (5th) or Camborne (7th). El Salvador has a high head carriage while Biographer has been very disappointing and the blinds are fitted here.

My best bet of the evening is reserved for the last with the reappearance of Abseil. I always take note of any lightly-raced four-year-olds retained by Sir Michael Stoute. A healthy percentage of them start in handicaps and progress to Group races and Abseil looks to be heading in that direction.

I was extremely worried about his draw at Chester last time out and it proved his un-doing. His cause was further damaged when he missed the break so he did well to chase home the well prepared Here Comes When. He was beaten five lengths so is only up 1lb for that run and he looks nap material.

Brown Panther 7.15 Sandown at 4-1 Paddy Power

Remote 7.50 Sandown at 4-1 Betfair

Abseil 8.50 Sandown at 2-1 Bet365