Hi all,
It’s one of those weekends in the flat season where there’s lull between the big meetings. In this case between York’ Ebor Festival last week and Irish Champions Weekend and next Saturday’s Haydock’s Betfair Sprint Cup.
ITV4 are covering racing from three meetings this afternoon. Four races from Sandown, the feature meeting and two each from Beverley & Chester.
Sandown
It was good to firm, good in places at Sandown on Friday morning but by Friday evening it was good, good to soft in places. Not much rain is forecast so it shouldn’t be worse than good.
1:50 – Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap (Class 3) – 7f
Lyndon B is a dual course winner (both at a mile) on quick ground. Not at his best on three starts so far this season but his been running better than his final positions suggests. He’s down to a winnable mark and if the 7-year-old gets a well-run race, he can win this.
Tough Enough was steadily progressive on three starts last year and made a winning seasonal return on handicap debut at Windsor in June. Returned to winning ways over C&D 23 days ago. Up 4lb but the 3-year-old likely remains on a winnable mark.
Indemnify’s three best RPR’s have come at Sandown (all at 1m) and he was unlucky in the run when 3 ½ length 4th of 11 here 13 days ago. He would have gone close last time with a clear passage and has a good chance off the same mark.
2:25 – Virgin Bet Atalanta Stakes (Group 3) (Fillies & Mares) (Class 1) – 1m
Coppice was a good winner of the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot’ However she looked out of her depth when 5th of 8 in the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket last time. Drops in Class here but I think quicker ground would suit her. Stablemate Queen For You looked a useful prospect when finishing runner-up in a Listed race at York in May. Found Group 1 company to hot on just her third career start in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot and possibly didn’t stay 1m 2 ½ f at York last time. A return to a stiff mile and the addition of the first time cheekpieces could see her back to her best.
Potapova came from the rear in a strongly run race to win this race 12 months ago. Not at her best on three starts this season but didn’t come into last year’s race in form either. Needs to revive but capable of doing so.
Heredia was back to her very best when comfortably winning a Haydock Listed race 21 days ago. Back in a 3 ½ length second that day was Purplepay. That was a much better effort from the latter, but I think she would probably prefer even softer ground. Heredia needs a strong pace like she got at Haydock and if she gets it won’t be far away.
Roman Mist won a Listed race at Goodwood in May and was back to her best when a neck 2nd of 9 in a Group 3 at Ascot last month and must be considered.
Nibras Angel is the unknown quantity. She’s won her two career starts and has a Group 1 Sun Chariot Stakes entry. Has 13lb to find with Heredia on Official Rating’s but is capable of further improvement.
3:00 – Virgin Bet Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 2f
Dual Identity was a strong finishing runner-up in last year’s race and then finished third in the Cambridgeshire. He’s struggled to replicate last year’s progressive form this season but has dropped back to a good mark when he does bounce back to his best. Trainer from is a concern though.
Gaassee looked back to his best when 1 ¼ length 4th of 13 in the Old Newton Cup (1m 2f) at Haydock two starts back but was disappointing at Ascot last time though. His best form has come at 1m 4f so I’m not sure whether the drop back to 1m 2f is a positive. Slightly easier ground will suit the 5-year-old and he’s on a competitive mark.
Top weight Certain Lad is another who will appreciate the slightly easier ground. However, he hasn’t won since landing a Group 3 at York three years ago. He’s on a competitive mark though and can’t be ruled out.
3:38 – Virgin Bet Solario Stakes (Group 3) – 7f
Mortlake stepped on his racecourse debut run when winning a Leicester novice 20 days ago. He looked an excellent juvenile prospect that day and is worth his place in the line-up. Open to further improvement and trainer Ralph Beckett is 14 winners from 44 runners in the past 14 days.
Starlore made a winning racecourse debut over C&D in July. He’s capable of further progress and looks well worth his place in Group company.
Aabian made a winning debut at Newmarket last month. The son of Dubawi is another useful prospect and trainer Charlie Appleby saddled the winner of this race in 2017 and last year.
Beverley
2:05 – William Hill Silver Cup Handicap (Class 2) – 1m 4f
Dream Harder was a four time winner on the all-weather over the winter and has bounced back to his best on his last two starts on turf, winning at Chester last month and finishing a good 2 ¼ length 4th of 12 at Windsor 16 days ago. Capable of going close once more.
Aimeric returned from wind surgery and a 238 day break to win a Doncaster handicap (1m 4f) in June. Not disgraced when a 4 length 8th of 18 in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot. Ran too bad to be true when tailed off last at Newmarket last time. The 4-year-old is less exposed than his seven rivals and if he bounces back won’t be far away.
2:40 – William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) – 5f
Tis Marvellous will bid for a hat trick of wins in the race. He’s been in form on three starts this season, but he didn’t come into last year’s race in form either. Both his race successes have come on good ground. However, he’s also won on good to soft so he’s not reliant on quick ground. Trainer Clive Cox has also left Kerdos in the race. The 3-year-old was 5th of 11 in a Group 2 at Goodwood 29 days ago and wouldn’t be out of this on OR’s.
Top on OR’s is Silkie Wilkie who is vying with Equilateral for race favouritism. The 4-year-old produced a below par effort in a Group 2 at Goodwood last time. However, he’s 1-1 over C&D and could easily bounce back here.
Judicial won this race in 2019 and he bounced back from a poor seasonal reappearance effort at Newcastle when a 4 ¼ length 5th of 10 to Rogue Lightning in handicap at the Shergar Cup last time. The 11-year-old is dual C&D winner can’t be easily dismissed if taking another step forward from Ascot.
Apollo One brings good handicap form into the race and will appreciate the quick ground. His best form has come over 6f but a stiff 5f shouldn’t inconvenience and he’s very much in the mix.
Chester
ITV Racing are taking two races live from the Chester card this afternoon but I have only looked at the opening handicap.
1:35 – Contact Company Handicap (Class 2) – 7 ½ f
Lord Bertie finished a length 3rd of 12 to Chaldean in a Newbury novice on his racecourse debut last July before going onto win a Ffos Las maiden the following month. The 3-year-old made a winning belated seasonal return at Thirsk (soft) 28 days ago. Has a handy low draw and he could very well treated off a mark of 95 on handicap debut.
Positive Impact looked well ahead of his mark when winning a Kempton handicap 12 months ago. Ran poorly on two starts in Meydan but after a six month absence there was a bit more to like about his 4 length 6th of 10 to Perotto at Ascot three weeks ago. The cheekpieces return today and has a handy low draw for a prominent racer.
Hodler won three times as a 3-year-old all over 7f last year and won here (7f) in May. That was a career best from the 4-year-old, but it was in a Class 4 handicap and he hasn’t been at his best on his last two starts in Class 2 company albeit those runs came on quicker ground.
Master Zoffany is twice a winner at Chester including C&D. Returned from a 6 month absence and shaped like the run was needed when a 7 ½ length 4th of 7 over C&D 27 days ago. Capable of bigger performance today and competitively weighted, if back to his best.
Betting Advice:
Sandown
2:25 – Nibras Angel – 1pt win – 12/1 @ Coral
3:00 – Gaassee – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral and Certain Lad – 1pt win – 20/1 @ Coral
Beverley
2:40 – Judicial – 1pt win – 5/1 @ Coral
Chester
1:35 – Master Zoffany – 1pt win – 8/1 @ Coral
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
John