Hi all,
At last, a decent priced winner with Topanticpation winning at an early priced advised 12/1 on Sunday. All in all, it was one of the best days of the month with Lion Tower & Devaste finishing second and Geremia third in their respective races on the Knavesmire. Mind you in saying it was a such a good day shows how poor May has proven to be.
Racing fans are in for a Thursday treat with Sandown’s six racing evening card which gets underway at 5:40. The feature races include the National Stakes (6:15); the Group 3 Coral Henry II Stakes (6:50) and the Group 3 Coral Brigadier Gerard Stakes (7:25). There’s also Coral Whitsun Cup (8:00). The latter race used to be one of the big Spring 1m handicaps back in the day. It’s only a Class 3 contest now but remains a decent race.
There’s usually a good atmosphere, the card is good, and you can get a ticket for the Grandstand for just £15, which includes access to the parade ring. Given the economic times we live in that represents fantastic value for an evening at the races.
I have a few fancies today one at Sandown and a couple at Haydock.
Sandown
8:00 – Coral Whitsun Cup Handicap (Class 3) – 1m
My fancy Fox Champion is now a non-runner. Farasi Lane won over C&D last August but he’s 6lb higher now and needs the first-time visor to eke out more improvement. Rebel Territory made it 2-5 on turf when winning at Newmarket on his final 3-year-old start. He starts his 4-year-old campaign off 5lb higher but remains with potential to better this season.
8:35 – The biggest field of the Sandown card for this 1m 3-year-old only handicap. Two Tempting got off the mark at the fifth attempt when winning at Kempton 8-days ago. That looked a much-improved performance from the filly and she’s 6lb well in here. All weather winner Sip And Smile got off the mark on turf for the first time at Doncaster 12-days ago. He got the run of the race out in front that day but found plenty for pressure when headed. Up 3lb but the step up to 1m can bring out more progression from the gelding. Alan King has his horses in good form and Super Lover could be set for a good run on his handicap debut. The colt shaped well on his turf debut/ seasonal return when a 2 ¾ length 2nd of 9 at Windsor 24-days ago. Open to improvement on his handicap debut and the forecast strong pace should suit. Stall 13 isn’t ideal in a field size like this, but he should go well. David Menuisier has a good record with his runners in Sandown handicaps – 13 winners from 40 runners 33% +36.1 21 placed 53%. He saddles handicap debutant Ar El Bee who has been gelded and makes his seasonal/handicap debut here. Showed he possesses ability on his first two starts last season, including when 4th of 9 over C&D on his racecourse debut. He’s yet to race on ground quicker than soft but on the plus side the trainer won this race in 2018.
Haydock
A couple of interesting handicaps at Haydock this afternoon. The going is being described as good, good to firm in places.
2:40 – Clive Cox has a 21%-win strike rate at Haydock in the past five years and had a couple of winners here on Saturday. He runs likely favourite Lethal Nymph who made it 2-2 when winning at Doncaster last month. He looked a useful sprint prospect last time and could be on a good mark for his handicap debut. Amazonian Dream won a couple of nurseries last August. He wasn’t at his best on his seasonal reappearance but shaped with more encouragement when a 5-length 9th of 18 at Ascot 20-days ago. Yards runners are in better form now, and I can see him going well here.
3:10 – Celsius bounced back to form when winning at Ascot last time out. He’s 5lb higher after his Ascot win but won off 2lb higher in June 2020. He’s 3-3 over C&D and provided the ground is good or quicker he must have a good chance of following up. Indian Sounds raced like the race was needed when down the field at Musselburgh last month. He’s dropped down to a good mark based on the best of last years form. The forecast strong pace should Sound Reason who returned from an 8-month absence with a good 3 ¼ length 4th of 14 at Hamilton last time. He’s been dropped 1lb and should be competitive again. Modular Magic ran well on his seasonal reappearance when a head 3rd of 12 at Thirsk last month. He made a bold bid from the front that day and was only caught in the final strides. Up 3lb for that effort but he’s always to be respected when he gets his own way out in front. However, that doesn’t seem likely today.
Betting Advice:
Sandown
8:35 – Ar El Bee – 14/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Haydock
2:40 – 1pt win – Amazonian Dream – 11/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
3:10 – 1pt win – Celsius – 4/1 – Gen
Cheers
John