Hi all,
After a few days off I’m back today with a couple of selections. It’s the first of a busy four days of selections for the service. There’s a decent card at Sandown this with a feature race being the Heron Stakes (7.15). Where the Queen’s colt Reach For The Moon makes his belated seasonal reappearance. I have a selection from Sandown and a bigger priced one from this evenings fixture at Tipperary.
Sandown
7:15 – Coral Heron Stakes (Listed Race) – 1m
Four of the six runners have Group 1 entries and they of course include the favourite Reach For The Moon. The favourite is clear of his field on RPR’s and was due to be trained for the Derby but a setback meant he couldn’t be prepared for that race. This looks a good starting point for the colt. However, he does face some interesting rivals.
Akhu Najla made a winning seasonal reappearance at Yarmouth last month and holds a St James’ Palace entry. If he’s to take his place at Royal Ascot you would expect him to go well here.
The inform William Haggas saddles My Prospero who won a Newbury maiden last month. He looked a useful prospect the last day and this race was mentioned by connections after his Newbury success.
Verdict: The Gosden yard have won the last three running’s of the race. Which is a positive for the chance of Reach For The Moon. His chance is obvious and is class may get him home over a mile. That said as a pundit you must take him on given his preparation and my pick would be the unexposed My Prospero.
7:45 – The well-bred Francesco Clemente lookeda smart prospectwhen winning the Wood Ditton on his racecourse debut last month. He’s clearly highly regarded as he has an Arc and Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes entry. The step up to 1m 2f should bring out even more improvement in the colt who is bred for middle distances.
The Sir Michael Stoute trained Capstan is bred to win races and the Kingman colt ran a race full of promise on his racecourse debut when finishing an 8 ½ length 2nd of 8 to Lysander at Newcastle. The winner is strongly fancied for a Listed race at Goodwood tomorrow and could well be heading for the Derby if he was to win. Capstan will be sharper for his Newcastle run and he looks the one to chase home Francesco Clemente in what looks an interesting 1m2 f novice contest.
1pt win – Capstan – 15/2 @ Bet365
Tipperary
7:55 – Merry Moves, a point winner over 3m, is 0-6 under rules, including three runs over hurdles. The mare arguably put up her best performance so far when a 16-length 4th of 13 at Wexford last time. On a workable mark for her handicap hurdle debut especially as she races like she will do better for the step up to 3m. At the 16/1 available with Coral & Ladbrokes she looks overpriced.
1pt each way – Merry Moves – 16/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes (both paying 5 places 1/5 odds)
Cheers
John