Saturday 11th June - Calm before the storm at York, Chester and Sandown

It feels like the calm before the storm as we approach the week of mouth watering action that is Royal Ascot, but the quality racing keeps coming thick and fast, and even in a week where it is sandwiched between The Epsom meeting and Royal Ascot, racing on Saturday I still that of the utmost quality, with fine meetings at Newbury, York and Chester.

Andrew Balding has started the season in fantastic form and one of is leading handicap hopeful’s is OPERA GAL, who run’s in the 3:55 at Chester, which is a class two handicap. The filly has been nothing but progressive over the last two years, being the model of consistency. She has finished fourth and second in her two outings this year, and got backed off the boards at Doncaster last time out, and the ease that has come in the ground in the last few days should be in her favour to push her over the finishing line in first.

With stay with the Balding yard to move to York for the 3:15, another class two handicap, where it looks like DESERT LAW is one who is on the upgrade and has plenty more potential than his current handicap mark. He made his debut in handicap company two weeks ago, and looked for all the winner, before being narrowly held by Majestic Myles at Newmarket. He should come on greatly for the run, as was his first run for 225 days. As mentioned, the yard is in flying form, and stable jockey Jimmy Fortune is booked in the saddle.

THE CONFESSOR goes at Sandown for Henry Candy, and has a tremendous record when fresh. He has run twice when having a 85 day absence or more, and returns to seven furlongs, where he is two from three, with his only loss coming after running with only a seven day break, which clearly does not suit the horse. Henry usually has his horses fit and ready to go, which should mean he has every chance whilst running against potentially rust horses.

2.55 Sandown – The Confessor

3.15 York – Desert Law

3.55 Chester – Opera Gal