Hi all,
Republican was in the process of going very close when coming down at the last at Perth yesterday.
There’s a good Sandown flat card and it’s the final day of Perth’s April meeting. The feature race at Sandown is the Group 2 bet365 Mile (3:00), There’s only four runners and Palace Pier will be a short-priced favourite to make a winning seasonal return. There’s a good supporting card of races at Sandown, including the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial which sees ten runners with dreams of classic success still alive.
Sandown
Despite the quickish ground the field sizes at Sandown have held up.
1:55 – bet365 Esher Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m
Dingle comes into the race in good form having finished 3rd of 16, behind Mithras, at Newbury 7-days ago. The step up to mile should suit and he can race off the same mark as last week. Should be up to win a decent pot this season.
Tawaareq a promising fifth behind 2,000 Guineas favourite One Ruler on his racecourse debut here last season. He went onto to win a Doncaster maiden before struggling on soft ground on his nursery debut at Newmarket. Has been gelded in the off season and looks the type to improve as a 3-year-old.
Given the form of Charlie Appleby 3-year-old colts Quintillus must be respected. Shaped like the run was needed at Chelmsford 22-days ago and will be fitter today.
2pt win – Dingle – 9/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
1pt win – Tawaareq – 9/1 @ Bet365
2:25 – bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3) – 1m 2f
Hukum so impressive when winning a Royal Ascot handicap and a Group 3 at Newbury is having first run since not staying in last season’s St Leger. Starts the season off dropped back to a 1m 2f but has the potential to make up into a smart middle-distance performer as a 4-year-old.
Thunderous & Highest Ground were first & second in last season’s Dante at York. The latter didn’t seem to enjoy the good to soft ground at Newmarket on his last start. Lightly raced the Sir Michael Stoute trained colt has the potential to rate much higher this season. Thunderous hasn’t race since winning at York. He was overlooked by punters in the Dante who were all over the Stoute horse as they are again here.
1pt win – Thunderous – 6/1 @ bet365
3:35 – bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3) – 1m 2f
There seems to be plenty of confidence behind the Charlie Appleby trained Yibir who won his final two juvenile starts here and Newbury. However, preference is for Lone Eagle improved with each of his four juvenile starts and found plenty for pressure when winning the Group 3 Zetland Stakes (soft) at Newmarket last October. Stayed the 1m 2f well as a 2-year-old so no stamina issues for the son of Galileo who seems ground versatile. Seems sure to go on to better as a 3-year-old.
1pt win – Lone Eagle – 11/2 @ Bet365
Perth
2:40 – William Hill Highland National Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 6 ½ f
Gran Paradiso seems to have improved for the reapplication of the blinkers winning his last two start over fences at Sedgefield. Now 10lb higher than for last easy win but comes into the race in good form like good ground and is at the right end of the handicap. Big chance if he stays today’s marathon trip
2pts win – Gran Paradiso – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John