Hi all,
Some good racing today. The first of three days racing down at Goodwood and this evening it’s the best evening card of the racing calendar at Sandown with the highlights being two Group 3 races & two listed races. I have selections from both meetings.
Goodwood
2:35 – Just the nine go to post for this 7f Class 2 handicap but there are five or six strong contenders. The top two in the weights, both making their seasonal appearances are on winnable marks based on their best form. Zhui Feng was beaten just a neck in the Victoria Cup on his first start of 2018, off 1lb higher. Trainer form is a slight concern. Makzeem, trained by Roger Charlton, whose horses seem to be hitting form and he must be respected. He’s a bit of a 7f specialist, 2 wins from 8 runs over the distance. Good to firm ground would be a slight concern as his best form seems to have come with some ease in the going.
Likely favourite Game Player is even more of distance specialist. All three of his career wins have come at 7f. The 4-year-old seemed to appreciate the slight drop in class when running out a comfortable of a Class 3 handicap at Lingfield 20-days ago. Up just 5lb in the weights and looks capable of going close again if the track doesn’t inconvenience.
Love Dreams won this race last year off 5lb higher and showed again two starts back his liking for the track when runner-up over C&D. Comes into the race after finishing a respectable 4th of 14 at York. He ticks the boxes marked going course & distance, is handicapped to win but could have competition for the lead.
George Of Hearts is a frustrating horse. Plenty of latent ability but hard to win with. The 4-year-old was tried in the first time cheekpieces when 13th of 26 in the Victoria Cup. Gets the first-time blinkers today and he’s dropped down to a winnable mark. Interesting to see that trainer Richard Hughes has booked Silvestre De Sousa for the ride – 1 win from 4 rides for the trainer. Comes with risks attached but he has form at the track and will be better suited by the going than he was at Ascot.
Verdict: Game Player is a solid favourite and will take the beating if in the same form as last time. George Of Hearts comes with risks attached but Silvestre De Sousa is an eye-catching jockey booking and the first-time blinkers could be the key.
George Of Hearts – 7/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes – each way
Sandown
8:10 – I have been waiting for the Andrew Balding trained Bell Rock to run ever since his win in a Newmarket 7f novice 211-days ago. Today’s 1m distance should bring out more improvement in the son of Kingman. Trainer also has a solid record in Group & Listed races at Sandown 6 winners from 20 runners 30% +18.98 10 placed 50%. The colt is clearly highly regarded and holds a Group 1 St James Palace Stakes entry.
Sir Michael Stoute is another trainer, with an even better record with 3-year-olds, in Group & Listed races at the course – 9 winners from 29 runners 38% +2.08 13 placed 54%. He saddles Sangarius who makes his seasonal reappearance here. The colt won his first two starts as a juvenile before finishing 4th of 8 to Too Darn Hot in the Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes. The son of Kingman races in the first-time tongue tie but looked a very useful juvenile who could make up into a top-class 3-year-old. Like Bell Rock he’s another to hold a St James Palace Stakes entry.
Verdict: Bell Rock is an exciting colt for Andrew Balding and Sangarius still has the potential to be a high class 3-year-old. At the prices I will take a chance on the former.
Bell Rock – 8/1 @ Bet365 & Betway – each way
8:40 – The Whitsun Cup a Handicap over a mile with a field of ten declared to go to post.
Recent Newbury eyecatcher History Writer takes his chance. The 4-year-old returns to the C&D and the scene of his only career win so far. Needs a good even pace to chase and should get it. Trainer David Menuisier runners are in better form now 2 winners from 5 runners 40% +2 in the past 14-days. If jockey Jason Watson gets the gelding in a decent position, I can see him winning this.
Kitaabaat won over C&D as a juvenile but was well behind History Writer here last August. The 4-year-old has been gelded and makes his seasonal reappearance today. Just the seven career starts and could easily defy his current mark off 88 sometime this season.
Jamie Osborne had a winner at Kempton on Wednesday evening, and he saddles Lush Life here. The filly was steadily progressive last season winning two of her four starts. Returned from a 186-day break to come from last to almost finish snatch second at Windsor 17-days ago. Jockey Jamie Spencer wasn’t hard on the 4-year-old and she should improve for that run.
Greenside won that Windsor race finishing 2 lengths ahead of Lush Life and is just 3lb worse off. He had the benefit of race fitness that day and may struggle to confirm that form with the Osborne runner.
Data Protection won a Class 5 handicap over C&D last August (good to soft) before dead heating for first at Newmarket later that month. Not as good on four subsequent starts last year but that means he’s just 1lb higher than for his Newmarket win. First start for 202-days but the 4-year-old wasn’t disgraced on his seasonal reappearance last year. Nicola Currie who’s won twice on the horse return to the saddle. Will need a career best to win this but could get into the places.
Verdict: Data Protection can get into the money on his return to action, but Lush Life and History Writer look to have the better win claims and are hard to split
Lush Life – 9/2 @ Ladbrokes & Paddy Power
History Writer – 5/1 @ William Hill & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John