Not a very inspiring day's racing to be honest but a strong fancy in the 3.00 Sandown (if only the trainer was in better form). Still there's winners to be found and here's my thoughts on the day's ITV races. Good luck everyone.
Â
Sandown 1.50
A tricky enough eleven runner 7F handicap kicks things off today for terrestrial viewers. A big eye-catcher last time out was Alice Haynes’s four year old gelding Indemnify when failing to get a run when running on to finish fourth over a mile in a similar handicap here. The grey has a big weight to carry but has shown his liking for this track when winning over a mile here in May and may actually appreciate stepping back to 7F under Kieran O’Neill.
Â
INDEMNIFY 1 point each way @ 11/2 bet365 1/5th 1234
Â
Beverley 2.05
A winnable eight runner 1M 4F class 2 handicap for the money. Roger Varian’s Aimeric maybe the answer if we can overlook his latest poor effort at Newmarket when tailing off last. Conditions look ideal and the word from Newmarket is he’s ready to run a big race following some good work outs with the likes of Postileo (recent Hamilton winner). Pulled out at Goodwood recently when the ground went soft he’ll prefer any rain to stay away.
Â
AIMERIC 1 points each way @ 6/1 William Hill 1/5th 123
Â
Sandown 2.25
The Group 3 Atalanta Stakes is run over 1M and is for 3yo+ fillies and mares. Richard Hannon’s Heredia is unbeaten in two runs over a mile, the Sandringham Handicap at Royal Ascot last year and last time out in a listed race at Haydock when taking her field apart coming home 3 3/4L ahead of the re-opposing Purplepay. Shes joint top rated in the race alongside last year’s winner Potapova and this year’s Sandringham winner Coppice and looks sure to be thereabouts.
Â
HEREDIA 1 point each way @ 5/1 William Hill 1/5th 123
Â
Beverley 2.40
The Beverley Bullet Sprint is a listed race run over the minimum trip of 5F and this year we have a small but select field of seven. The winner of this race for the last two years Tis Marvellous is back but he’s shown nothing this season beating only 3 of his 48 rivals! Apollo One is the form horse having finished runner up in the Wokingham and Stewards Cup this season and although he’s dropping a furlong today can come late and take a prize he thoroughly deserves.
Â
APOLLO ONE 1 point win @ 7/2 BetVictor
Â
Sandown 3.00
A competitive 10F class 2 handicap can go the way of last year’s runner up Dual Identity who looks great each way value to go one better this year around from a mark only one pound higher. He’s had excuses for his last runs (drawn out wide at Goodwood and on wrong side in Royal Hunt Cup previously). The only negative is that his trainer William Knight has now gone 57 runs and 57 days without a winner but if anywhere near his best will surely go close.
Â
DUAL IDENTITY 2 points each way @ 8/1 Boyles 1/5th 1234
Â
Chester 3.20
This six runner listed Caa Stellar Chester Stakes may well end up being fought out by Ralph Beckett’s Lone Eagle and the Godolphin three year old Military Order. Preference is for the latter who we haven’t seen since disappointing on fast ground finishing plum last in the Epsom Derby in June. The fast ground may well have been the reason for that moderate effort and back on an easier surface stepped up in trip can take this under William Buick en route to a tilt at the St Leger in a fortnights time.
Â
MILITARY ORDER 3 points win @ 4/6 Ladbrokes
Â
Sandown 3.38
Only six go to post for this Group 3 Solario Stakes that has been won by some smart sorts over the years. I’m still not sure about the Sir Michael Stoute yard despite a winner at Windsor last Saturday night and his Starlore is overlooked for that reason alone. The pick is the Ralph Beckett trained Mortlake who showed his debut run on soft ground was all wrong when bolting up at Leicester, coasting home to win by 5L and with his trainer in such fine form is the selection with Rossa Ryan doing the steering.
Â
MORTLAKE 1 point win @ 11/4 William Hill
Â
Congrats to @Zilzalian, @waggy and always the forgotten winner when looking at the tables, the ko cup winner @calva decoy . Well done to the others in the money.Â
Thanks as always to @MCLARKEÂ for all his work running the comps,Â