Hi all,
Four days of fantastic racing at York is over. I thought it was an excellent Ebor Festival and what a difference spectators made compared to 12 months ago. Friday’s Lonsdale Cup’s thrilling finish between Stradivarius & Spanish Mission deserved to be watched by a big and appreciative crowd.
On the punting front it was tough four day but I managed to finish with a profitable Saturday thanks to Sonnyboyliston, winning the Ebor, Shanroe finishing 4th in the same race and Ravenscraig Castle finishing a close up third in the Melrose Handicap.
I think we could have done a bit better. There were several that went close in their respective races. If one of those goes in then we’ve had a profitable meeting. I was also I a bit annoyed with myself for not going with Migration yesterday. So, it could have been better but it could have been a lot worse. I did roll the dice a little by concentrating on York and If it hadn’t paid off, we would have a significant loss over the four days. Instead, we got through it relatively unscathed unlike plenty of punters and tipsters.
Sunday see’s the second Sky Bet Sunday Series at Sandown. Two weeks ago, the Haydock meeting had to be postponed to due to waterlogging. It’s a seven-race card and the great prize money has led to big fields. I can’t remember the last time a flat fixture at Sandown has seen over 100 runners declared. The moral of the story is: Put up the prize money and the horses turn up like they did at Musselburgh for the first Sunday of the series. Even better you can watch all seven races on ITV this afternoon.
Over at Deauville there are two competitive Group 1 races. However, I have concentrated Sunday’s preview on the Sandown card. I have four selections from there and hopefully there is among them.
Sandown
3:55 – The first race is for unraced juveniles. There are several well-bred 2-year-olds from top yards so it’s a race that will be worth watching if not betting on.
4:20 – An apprentice handicap with a maximum field of 17 declared to run. Looking at the stats there have only been five handicaps at the track since 2008 that have seen a maximum field and you must go back 7 -years for the last time.
Mascat has been mainly disappointing since winning as juvenile. His losing run now stands at 13 but he’s put in a couple of efforts this season that would put in him with a good chance here. The 4-year-old ran Zabeel Champion to ¾ length at Ripon in April and finished a 1 length 4th of 10 over C&D in June. However, he’s disappointed on his last two runs.
Glencora twice a winner earlier in the season at Yarmouth & Leicester has continued in decent form and failed by just a nose to win at Leicester last month. Nudged up another 2lb but looks sure to go well again.
1pt win – Glencora – 15/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
4:50 – Just the ten runners for this nursery handicap. Latin Lover seemed to improve for the step into nursery company at Catterick 6-days ago when losing out by a short head. Can race off the same mark here and return to a straight track and a stiff 5f should suit the colt.
Fast Response won a soft ground 6f maiden at Windsor last month and returned to winning ways when winning at Musselburgh (good) 16-days ago. Makes her nursery debut off a workable mark and shouldn’t be far away.
Amazonian Dream took advantage of a drop-in class and step into nurseries for the first time when winning at Newbury 9-days ago. He was slowly away that day and, in the circumstances, did well to get up on the line. Up 6lb but should remain competitive and Osin Murphy is back in the plate.
5:20 – Another maximum field of 17 for this 5f handicap. David Barron is 0-32 in the past 28-days. His last winner was Modular Magic who is one of the leading fancies here. The 4-year-old did well to win last time at Musselburgh, making all from a low draw. He’s been raised 4lb for that success but is open to more progress and won’t be far away if in the same form as last time. Tentative pick of his low draw isn’t an inconvenience.
Global Prospector bids for the four timer. He’s up 6lb for winning at Bath 40-days ago and up a notch in class. That said he’s going the right way and can’t be ruled out.
King Of Stars, an improving handicap sprinter on a sound surface on his first three starts this season. He’s got to be respected on his neck 2nd of 14 to Twilight Calls at Newmarket last month. Soft ground was against him at both Goodwood and at the Shergar Cup last time. A return to quick ground could see him return to winning ways with Silvestre De Sousa back in the saddle.
The forecast strong pace means Be Proud must be respected. A good second at Musselburgh on Friday night. Needs to come off a strong pace which he should get here. William Buick up for the first time.
1pt win – Modular Magic – 5/1 @ Bet365 & Paddy Power
5:45 – Another cracking field of 14 for this 1m 6f handicap which looks the best race on the card. Praiano needed every yard of the 1m 4f when getting up to win on his handicap debut at Leicester two weeks ago. The 3-year-old has only been raised 3lb for that success and should be suited by today’s extra two furlongs.
Vis A Vis a useful staying handicapper winning a CAD handicap, off 3lb higher back in 2018. He’s been lightly raced since then but showed he retains plenty of his old ability when an encouraging 2 ½ length 6th of 9 at Ascot last month. Well handicapped, if stall 13 isn’t an inconvenience.
Cormier has returned to action this season in good form winning at Pontefract & York before a below par effort at Newcastle last time. Both wins came over 1m 4f but he stays 1m 6f. Return to turf a plus for the 5-year-old and De Sousa booked for the ride.
Tagood has been very busy since April, this will be his ninth start, but he seems to be improving with racing and put in a career best when a ½ length 2nd of 11 at Nottingham 12-days ago. Up another 2lb in a higher class but his improvement may not have ended.
Ravens Ark made it 2-2 at Brighton when winning at the seaside track 17-days ago. The fitting of the first time cheekpieces seemed to have the desired effect as he found plenty for pressure to get up in the final strides. The drop back to 1m 4f almost didn’t work though as he was one of the first off, the bridle. Up 3lb but the return to 1m 6f will suit and he ran well here two starts back.
1pt win – Vis A Vis – 9/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
6:15 – A fillies 1m 1f handicap which has attracted 14 runners for what looks a tricky little contest. The two I like most are Strawberri and Crema Inglesa.
Strawberri bids for the hat trick after wins at Haydock and on her handicap debut at Beverley 50-days ago. Looked to be well suited by the stiff mile at Beverley last time and should improve for the step up to 1m 1f here. Up 6lb but the 3-year-old is open to plenty of improvement but does seem to be well suited by plenty of ease in the ground so drying ground would be a concern.
Crema Inglesa resumed winning ways over C&D 17-days ago. A winner previously on good to firm she improved for racing on good to soft when winning here last time. She’s steadily progressing and although she been raised 7lb for he last success, Saffie Osborne takes off 5lb, there maybe more to come from the 3- year-old if there is ease in the going.
6:45 – Bucephalus a soft ground winner at Pontefract in May has remained in form on his latest two starts. He seems likely to go well again but ideally wants more juice in the ground.
Global Spirit probably prefers a sounder surface to be seen at his best. The 6-year-old was a neck second, off today’s mark, in the Carlisle Bell and after a disappointing effort at Newmarket hasn’t run badly at York and when a ½ length 3rd of 12 at Thirsk last time. Knocking on the door this season and should go well again here. However, he needs all the cards to fall right if he’s to win of his present mark.
1pt win – Global Spirit – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral
Cheers
John