Tag Archives: Sandown

United Kingdom

Preview: Sandown – Brigadier Gerard Stakes

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Twilight Son

Godolphin’s exciting Tryster is back on turf after an extremely prolific winter on the All-Weather where he landed the Winter Derby as well as the AW Middle-Distance Championships. Can he be as effective on the grass? We’ll find out soon. He’s to beat some very tough opposition, that’s assured.

Most notably Sir Michael Stoute’s Arab Spring. Progressive last year and successful on his return to the track last month, he took a Group 3 over 12f and is one who’s expected to have a big season ahead. Not sure if the drop in trip to 10f will suit, though. He seemed to need every inch of the 1m 4f trip in the John Porter Stakes.

John Gosden’s Eagle Top was a runway winner of the King Edward VII Stakes last year but subsequently wasn’t in the same mood in the King George. Lightly raced and talented, he remains with loads of potential, but again, the drop in trip seems not to suit. He has never races shorter than 11f in his career.

Western Hymn won the Gordon Richards Stakes over course and distance last month. He beat some really good horses and this form works out well. He may have had race fitness on his side that day but proved that he can cope with a faster than soft surface. He showed guts and class, and seems to have physically improved over the winter.

Tullius was a long way beaten in the very same race and the trip is a big question mark. Niceofyoutotellme shouldn’t be good enough in this class.

Verdict: It may turn out at the end of the season that others have progressed past Western Hymn, but he seems to have found an ideal opportunity to get another Stakes win on the boards here. With race fitness assured, he seems overpriced to my eyes, particularly given that he is a true mile and a quarter horse, which can’t be said about all his rivals.

Western Hymn @ 5/1 Coral – 5pts Win

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Richard of Yorke Bound For Big Run

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Curragh

7.35 Sandown: Class 3 Handicap, 1m2f

This race looks utterly competitive with some really promising sorts going to post. That says I’m not sure if the market has got it right here at all.

Currently trading as favourite is Dubawi son Dartmouth. He made an OK seasonal reappearance over course and distance last month, though it remains to be seen what a 12l beaten 4th behind Jack Hobbs is worth. Maybe not too much in this field I fear. Nonetheless he remains open to improvement and is on a fair mark. It doesn’t inspire me to trough money at him, though.

Godolphin’s Rare Rhythm was a good maiden winner in a decent field at Newmarket when last seen in 2014. He should improve for the step up to 10f but looks vulnerable today given his pretty stiff opening mark. Soluble was a bit unlucky at Salisbury recently, he may be better than the bare result suggests. He isn’t a price to get involved, on the other hand.

I really like the pedigree of Duretto. He’s sure to relish the new trip, however it’s questionable how much he beat when he got off the mark in 1m Kempton maiden back in November. I’m sure he is much better, but given his price and opening mark, I feel others offer better value.

None more than Richard of Yorke. I’m surprised to see him not at the head of the betting. This Oasis Dream son really impressed me on his debut run at Windsor. He was green and had to overcome one or another difficulty throughout the race. Coming from off the pace, not getting the gaps when needed, having to be brave, and yet getting up eventually, beating the eventual runner-up who had the run of the race – that’s is something to do first time out! The second went on to win a maiden by 15 lengths subsequently…

Another one to mention is Istinfaar. One of the long-shots in the field but I feel he could be much better than the 20/1 price tag. I liked the way he won his maiden at Wolverhampton recently, albeit he didn’t beet much. But he looks a scopey sort, lightly raced, with much more to come. He’s sure to relish the step up in trip too. Well bred, out of a 1m 2f Listed winner with Hanagan in the saddle, I can see him able to outrun the odds.

Richard of Yorke @ 5/1 Sportingbet – 5pts Win
Istinfaar @ 20/1 William Hill – 5pts Win

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Thanks AP!

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It’s all out and over – Anthony McCoy has officially retired from race riding. His long career has come to an end at Sandown Park today. He finished in third place in his last ever race on appropriately named Box Office. When he jumped off, a visible emotional Anthony McCoy was no longer an active jockey.

Much has been said over the course of the recent days, weeks and months since AP announced his retirement towards the end of the season. That says there isn’t much that I could add to it that hasn’t been said before already. But one last thing:

Enjoy your retirement Anthony. You’re a legend. I hope you’re in a good place and you’ll find plenty of things that keep you happy and occupied after a long life of race riding. It ain’t be easy. But you champ, you can do it. #Thanks AP!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xULGGShzwyE

United Kingdom

Preview – Sandown Mile

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Bow Creek

I love milers. Why? It’s simple: 1 mile races are the perfect combination of speed and stamina. Now, what does this say? I’m feeling quite excited about the Sandown Mile on Friday afternoon. My all-time favourite miler Paco Boy won this race twice during his illustrious career. So this race really has a special place in my heart.

That says we have a cracking renewal on our hands! Some smart, progressive milers are going to post. There might be bigger targets on their radar further down the line, but this is a good starting point. A real pointer in fact!

The jury is out on Shifting Power in my mind. He ran a cracker in last years 2.000 Guineas and backed it up with a fine second in the Irish equivalent behind Kingman. He ran another cracker in defeat in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat that summer. But was subsequently a huge disappointment n lesser grade when last season in 2014.

His trainer feels he’s a Group 1 winner in the making. The form tells so, to an extend. I always thought he lacks the extra bit of speed required at the highest level, though. Now, the Sandown Mile is a Group 2 and Shifting Power entitled to be favourite. Particularly since he is in receive of weight from other main rivals. But his price is nothing more than fair. At 11/4 there are better alternatives.

The Irish trained Custom Cut really made gigantic progress last year. He won a couple of races, including the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket. I expect him to be ready for the race and a bold bid is expected. I’m just slightly worried that he certainly needs the lead to be seen at his best. However he may be challenged here, or at least won’t have it all that easy from the front with horses chasing him.

Here Comes When won two Group 2’s toward the end of last season. He’s been clearly progressive and an exciting prospect. However the quick ground certainly counts against him at Sandown. He seems sure to be seen to best effect with cut in the ground. For that simple reason he looks opposable to me.

By far the most exciting individual in this field is Bow Creek. Now trained by Charlie Appleby, he was a two times Group 2 winner last season for Mark Johnston. He landed the Celebration Mile at Goodwood from the front, despite hanging badly in the closing stages. He followed up with a gutsy success on Irish Champions Weekend.

Cheek-pieces fitted for the first time should help him to stay focused in the closing stages, as sometimes things seem to distract him and he can hang. No doubt he has bigger targets this year and will come on for the run, but he’ll love the fast ground and the track should suit as well. He looks a big price to me.

The rest of the field has allot to find against the main contenders. Baltic Knight went close to beat Custom Cut in a Listed event last year, but hasn’t been in any sort of form similar to that when seen recently. Fast conditions may not be quite suitable for Breton Rock and Master Carpenter. Top Notch Tonto would not be out of it if he could run to something like his performance in the Group 2 Boomerang Mile. But it’s not easy to see to be honest.

Verdict: A cracking renewal with some rally exciting horses in the line-up… you can’t ask for more. That says the penalties for last seasons successes make it an even more intriguing contest, in that sense that Shifting Power has no excuses receiving 5lb from his main rivals. However betting wise I’m sweet on Bow Creek. He has tons of potential plus track, trip, ground will suit perfectly.

2.30 Sandown: Bet365 Mile (Group 2)
Bow Creek @ 4/1 Paddy Power – 5pts Win