Hi all,
I have had the luxury of getting Saturday’s preview and selections out early.
It’s the first Group 1 ‘clash of the generations’ over middle distance in Britain this afternoon with the latest renewal of the Coral- Eclipse (3:40) at Sandown.
Besides the best of the action from Sandown. ITV are also covering three races live from Haydock including the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks and historic Old Newton Cup Handicap.
Saturday’s selections and betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Sandown
Apart from the day’s feature race the field sizes for the other races have held up well and the opening race looks very competitive.
1:50 – Coral Charge (Group 3) – 5f
Annaf a progressive sprinter on the all-weather showed he could be just as effective on turf when a 2 ¾ length 3rd in the King Stand Stakes. Another big performance should be forthcoming from him. Top class juvenile
Marshman was a 5 length 7th in the King Stand Stakes. He doesn’t look up to Group 1 level so will appreciate today’s drop back in class here. Three year-old’s have won 8 of the last 15 renewals and so with Ryan Moore booked he’s got to be respected especially with ease in the ground. Trainer & Jockey combined for a winner here on Friday.
Get Ahead was back to her best on a sound surface when winning the Listed Cecil Frail Stakes (6f) at Haydock two starts back. Produced a career best on RPR’s back over the minimum trip when a short head 2nd of 12 (Marshman ½ length 3rd) in a Group 2 at Chantilly last month. Quick ground brings the 4-year-old into the mix.
Makarova is one of the outsiders of the field on official ratings. However, she’s run well on her last two starts dropped back to 5f. A good 4th of 10 in a Haydock Listed race two starts back she posted a personal best on RPR’s when winning wining a Listed race at Ayr 14 days ago. A very strong pace suited her, and she was well on top at the finish last time. This is a much deeper race but deserves her place in the line-up and should go well provided she gets a decent pace to chase.
Verdict: A tricky puzzle I thought the inform filly Makarova for a trainer who won this in 2021 was overpriced but the lack of a strong pace is a slight concern. Marshman has each way claims with Ryan Moore and should be nicely placed if the pace isn’t strong. The same thoughts apply to Get Ahead.
2:25 – Coral Challenge (Handicap) (Class 2) – 1m
For a fifteen runner handicap there looks to be little in the way of pace. Spirit Catcher is the only guaranteed front runner in the line-up. He’s finished runner-up on his last three starts and was nailed on the line when beaten a nose by Lattam at Newcastle 9 days ago. Got a soft lead last time but may do so again.
I quite like course form at Sandown. Indemnify took his career record to 2-7 when winning a C&D handicap 44 days ago. That success was a career best on RPR’s. Has since switched to a new yard and 5lb higher but should give another good account.
Intellogent runner-up in last season’s Royal Hunt Cup and a close-up third in the John Smith’s Cup at York. He’s yet to win since switching to his present trainer and only beat one rival in this year’s Hunt Cup. If you forgive his latest run, Royal Ascot then he’s well handicapped on the best of last year’s form. Not sure his hold up style will be suited to the pace of the race though.
Sceptic is the least exposed in the line-up and the 3-year-old duly improved to win a Goodwood handicap 15 days ago. Now 6lb higher but looks capable of further improvement. Should go close provided the geldings hold up style isn’t inconvenienced by a lack of pace.
Perotto a promising 7th of 22 in Ascot’s Victoria Cup (7f) on stable debut for Roger Varian. Disappointing beaten favourite (7/1) when only 10th to 30 in the Hunt Cup last time. Has been dropped 2lb and the first time hood is applied. Likely to better positioned than most from a handy low draw.
Verdict: Another race which might not have a lot of pace which means you can’t dismiss the claims of the inform Spirit Catcher. Intellogent is well treated on his best form as is Perotto but both disappointed last time at Royal Ascot. Sceptic is open to the most progression of the 15 runners but wouldn’t want to be held up to far out the back in a slowly run race.
3:00 – Coral Distaff (Listed Race) (Fillies) – 1m
The return to quick ground suited Breege when she was a back to form length 2nd of 29 to Coppice in the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot. This looks like a good opportunity for her to win a pattern race and looks a worthy favourite. The yard is 1-29 in the past 14 days though. – Non Runner
Her biggest rivals look to be Stenton Glider and Bridestones. The former was a good neck 2nd of 12 to Remarquee in the Group 3 Fred Darling. Found the 1,000 Guineas too hot on her next start but was back to form when a solid 2nd of 11 German 1000 Guineas. Handled quick ground last time and shouldn’t be far away.
Bridestonesran with more promise than her 9 ½ length 12th of 29 to Coppice in Sandringham Handicap suggests. She raced far side and was also hampered 2f out. Doing her best work at the finish last time. She’s unexposed over a mile and handled quick ground at Ascot. Yard saddled last year’s winner.
Verdict: This looks like a good opportunity for Breege after her recent Royal Ascot performance. However, the yards form is a worry. Both Bridestones and Stenton Glider look the ones to take advantage if the favourite underperforms.
3:40 – Coral-Eclipse (Group 1) – 1m 2f
Just the four for the Coral Eclipse. It’s race to watch rather than bet but one I’m looking forward to. It’s Paddington for me. I think he’ll improve for the step up to 1m 2f and likely tactical race will suit him better than Emily Upjohn.
Verdict: Paddington is a token selection.
Haydock
There’s some uncertainty as to the weather at Haydock on Saturday. The weather app that I consult is suggesting there could be some heavy thunderstorms around which could dump as much as 14mm on the course. If those storms do arrive, then it will have a big impact on the ground.
2:05 – bet365 Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 6f
Recent Ripon Novice winner Rogue Sea steps up 3f in trip for handicap debut but capable of better if staying.
William Haggas won this in 2020 & 2022 and has strong contender in Lordship. Proved his stamina for 1m 6f last timeand even an 8lb rise in the weights may not the gelding from completing the hat trick.
Pledgeofallegiance has improved for the step up to 1m 6f winning handicaps at Redcar and Doncaster 8 days ago. Another seeking the hat trick and should given his progressive profile he’s very much in the mix.
Midnight Lion appreciated the drop into maiden company when making all to win at Goodwood 15 days ago. Stamina was proven last time and looks suited to a stamin test. Handled good ground last time but has an action that suggests easier ground could see him improve further.
Rathgar improved to finish a 2 length 3rd of 11 to Chesspiece at York (1m 4f) two starts back but ran poorly when last of 8 at Doncaster 35 days ago. Too bad to be true last time and likely to bounce back. Has definite claims if staying today’s longer trip.
Verdict: Lordship make appeal at the front of the betting but 4/1 is short in race which I think is 6/1 the field. That brings the progressive Pledgeofallegiance into contention. Likewise, Midnight Lion who shapes like softer ground can elicit more improvement from him. Rathgar was to bad to be true last time and looks the type to bounce back.
2:40 – bet365 Lancashire Oaks (Group 2) – 1m 4f
Nine fillies & mares we left in the Haydock feature. Ante post favourite Mimikyuremains strong at the head of the betting due to the possibility of easy ground. However, we are in the dark as to whether the Clerk Of The Course will turn the taps on Friday night and then there could be thundery heavy showers on the day.
Mimikyu won the Group 2 Park Hill Fillies’ Stakes (1m 6 ½ f) at Doncaster last season like Free Wind did in 2021. Not at her very best when a short-head 2nd of 9 at York on her seasonal reappearance. Possibly was feeling the good to firm ground last time and won’t mind if the ground was good/good to soft. A worthy favourite given her powerful connections.
Sea Silk Road won a Group 3 over C&D last time. Time Lock was sent off the even money favourite but finished 3 lengths behind Sea Silk Road. The ground was plenty quick enough for Time Lock and on easier ground I can see her finishing ahead of the winner this time.
Rain doesn’t help the chances of either Sea Silk Road and Peripatetic who would prefer quicker underfoot conditions. Peripatetic has been weak in the ante post betting this week and the 16/1 available with Bet365 & Paddy Power would look attractive if you knew the ground was on the quick side of good which sadly isn’t certain at this stage.
Verdict: Mimikyu is a worthy enough favourite especially if there some juice in the ground. That said 11/8 with the sponsor is plenty short enough. I’m expecting a good run from Time Lock if there’s ease in the ground and Peripatetic if it’s on the quick side of good.
3:15 – bet365 Old Newton Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 4f
You can make a case for plenty in the day’s big handicap with a maximum field of 17 declared. It’s the race of the day and I have it 7/1 the field.
La Yakel a progressive middle distance handicapper last season who won at Southwell & Ascot and ended last season with a 5 length 4th of 17 in the valuable Old Rowley Cup at Newmarket. Capable of better on belated seasonal return which has been due to waiting for easier ground.
Maksud well backed (15/2) when 12th of 18 in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot last time. Raced to close to a very strong pace last time and if he settles better here is a big player from a 2lb lower mark.
Teumessias Fox was a disappointing 9/2 favourite when only 12th of 18 in the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap. Prior to that he had looked an improver when winning at Kempton and Newmarket. Probably worth forgiving his Royal Ascot performance. Crack apprentice Harry Davies takes off a useful 3lb and he’s high on the shortlist. Stablemate Scampi won a big field handicap at York in May. Hampered at a crucial stage at Epsom next time but was back to something like his best when a 3 length 5th of 11 at Ayr two weeks ago. Probably needs quick ground though.
Onesmoothoperator is on a losing run that goes back to December 2021. However, the 5-year-old was back to form when a 2 ½ length 4th of 10 over C&D last month. He was doing his best work at the finish and would have preferred a stronger gallop last time. Not handicapped out of this if getting a decent pace to chase but has a wide draw to contend with.
Toshizou has been running with credit since joining his new yard. Proved his stamina for 1m 2f when coming from off the pace to finish a 3 ¼ length 4th of 11 at Epsom last month. His hold up style makes him a hostage to fortune to how the race is run but he should get the race run to suit. This more conventional track should suit him better than Epsom and is on a handy mark if he stays today’s 1m 4f trip.
Euchen Glen is 3lb lower than when a luckless 1 ¼ length 3rd of 13 at Goodwood (1m 6f) last July. Even at the age of 10 he showed last time when a 1 ¼ length 4th of 11 at Ayr two weeks ago that’s he capable of a big run. Wide draw to contend with here. Will be ridden for luck as ever but there’s a handicap in him off his present mark when all the cards fall right.
Verdict: La Yakel has been waiting for easy ground to make his belated seasonal return. He’s open to the most improvement of the 17 runners and is a worthy favourite for the Haggas yard. In a race where I have it as 7/1 the field. Do I want to take less? Despite his obvious claims, probably not. Maksud and Teumessias Fox both disappointed at Royal Ascot but better is expected. Onesmoothoperator, Euchen Glen and Toshizou are on good marks and are each way contenders.
Betting Advice:
Sandown
1:50 – Makarova – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
2:25 – Sceptic – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Bet365 & William Hill
3:00 – Bridestones – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Haydock
2:05 – Midnight Lion – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Coral
2:40 – Time Lock – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Bet365 and Peripatetic – 1pt win – 14/1 @ Coral.
3:15 – Teumessias Fox – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral and Maksud – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John