Beautiful racing this weekend, at two of the most picturesque courses in the country, with York and Sandown being two of seven meetings on Saturday. York has it’s usually abundance of strong handicaps, and there is more of a diverse feel at Sandown, which has a nice mix of listed, maiden and handicaps to keep us on our toes, with one eye already on Royal Ascot.
Starting firstly with Sandown, we have another Lucky 15 for our loyal listeners, and the first selection comes in the form of SAM SHARP. The six year old son of Johannesburg has caught the eye on his two starts this season, finishing second at Sandown on the softest of soft, and then Newbury on good-to-firm, so is clearly versatile and goes on anything, so weather forecast not needed! Princes of Sorrento and Stage Attraction have been in good heart so far this year, and look the main rivals.
In the listed sprint race, Pearl Secret is sure to go off the hot favourite, the unbeaten Pearl Bloodstock three year old has shown lots of class in his three winning runs, but on soft to heavy ground, BALLESTEROS surely has a much stronger chance, with the current going of soft to heavy in places. He hacked up in the mud at Chester, after a good handicap win before over course and distance here at Sandown. He hated the good to firm ground at Beverley and we can put a line through that run, which should just make the price even bigger!
DELFT looks a near handicap good thing as they come for Jeremy Noseda, Ryan Moore and Cheveley Park Stud in the 4.30, a seven furlong handicap. The Dutch Art filly showed signs of still being green, yet still managed to win well at Lingfield on her first run for 164 days. She is only up 3lb for that, and given it was her first run and still being green, she should come on for that in spades.
Ryan Moore and Cheveley Park can have a quick fire double in the race after with the John Gosden filly MOONGLOW, who is a beautifully bred daughter of Nayef, a sire who is having a particularly fruitful season. She is a half sister to multiple winners including Medicean and Moon Goddess, and has some positive entries. She ran a good fourth on her debut, being very green in the process, but Gosden’s horses are running incredibly well, having 13 winners in June alone at a strike rate of 25%.
2.50 Sandown – Sam Sharp
3.25 Sandown – Ballesteros
4.30 Sandown – Delft (Nap)
5.00 Sandown – Moonglow
The first race looks an absolute minefield, with a twenty runner lady amateur riders handicap being an absolute puzzle. In races like these however it usually pays to look for those who have the best course form, and in particular course and distance form. That would narrow it down to Odin’s Raven, Antigua Sunrise, Veiled Applause, Hanovarian Baron, Demolition and one that I particular like being CRACKENTORP. The Tim Easterby seven year old looked back to something of his best when finishing third over course and distance here three weeks ago after 169 days off and only losing by a neck and a short head. He is up 2lb for that run, staying on strongly towards the end, and the form has already worked out well. Considering his only two wins have come here, he carries maximum respect for a shrewd yard.
The six furlong handicap carries a huge pot, with a £51,572 first prize, and has brought out some very progressive horses. Priceless Jewel looks on a very strong upward curve for the in form Roger Charlton stable, as does Top Cop and Bartolomeu for Andrew Balding and Marco Botti respectively, who both have strong form in good handicaps this year. That being said, it could be worth taking a chance on SHOLAAN who has blinkers on for the first time, and the William Haggas stable coming into form just at the right time. They have had 5 winners and a further 12 places (including 9 seconds) from 33 runners this month. His maiden form has been franked with the second, third, fourth and sixth have all come out next time out, and further handicap successes in behind as well. The Invincible Spirit gelding was only beaten 3 ½ lengths on handicap debut at Epsom, and looked like he would suit a flatter track, such as York, and she should be a tasty price at around the 14/1 mark.
DANCE AND DANCE looks a different class to his rivals in the Listed Ganton Stakes over a mile, where he steps down from Group company, in what looks like a much easier task for the six year old. The Ed Vaughan trained son of Royal Applause chased home Side Glance at Epsom, and showed that he was back to his best under a good ride from Ryan Moore. Luke Morris takes the rider after riding him at home on the gallops and reportedly worked like a treat, he looks banker material.
ALFRED HUTCHINSON was put up as my nap two weeks ago at York, when he was absolutely smashed up and won comfortably, eventually going off the 9/2 favourite in a sixteen runner handicap, he was clearly fancied and duly obliged for connections. The Geoffrey Oldroyd is back running over course and distance with a 5lb rise, but that doesn’t look likely to stop him further winning. He is yet to finish out of the first three, and is still very unexposed with only five runs to his name throughout his career. He may go off short, but looks very much the good thing he appears on paper.
2.05 York – Crackentorp
3.10 York – Sholaan (Ew)
3.45 York – Dance and Dance (Nap)
4.15 York – Alfred Hutchinson (Nb)
The Yorkshireman – Jack Milner - @JJMSports
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