Cheltenham Festival 2018; Wednesday Day 2

Cheltenham Festival 2018

SAMCO (1.30) looks banker material in the opener on Day 2 and can not be opposed for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy in the newly-renamed Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. The selection has been lauded as the second coming by racing fans, much to the annoyance of owner Michael O’Leary, however there is good reason for such praise with three flawless victories over hurdles this term and odds-on to complete the four-timer this afternoon.

His main danger appears Next Destination, likewise a winner of all three starts this term, for a Willie Mullins yard that kicked off with a treble yesterday. He has looked sharp since being sent over timber but lacks the turn of foot demonstrated by Samcro in last month’s Deloitte success at Leopardstown, and expect the Closutton-inmate to improve further next term when sent over fences.

The Irish have the two market principles for the opener and likewise in the RSA where Presenting Percy and Monalee both bringing festival form to the table in the RSA Chase, and the latter expected to thrive on the drying ground.

Monalee (2.10) looked every inch a chaser when plying his trade over timber last term, finishing a gallant runner-up to Penhill in the 2017 Albert Bartlett and, despite one hiccup when falling over Christmas, has been foot perfect in his two chase successes for trainer Henry de Bromhead. I expect him to have too much class for last season’s Pertemps Winner Presenting Percy with Black Corton likely to come up a little short in producing a fairytale winner for racing’s new golden girl Bryony Frost.

Le Breuil was my long-time hope for the Coral Cup but the form of the Ben Pauling yard is worrying and the soft ground should suit Ruth Jefferson’s Mount Mews (2.50) who reverts back over timber after an interrupted campaign over fences. The selection was crying out for a step up in trip when well-backed for a pair of handicap hurdles at the start of the season and the handicapper has given him a chance from a revised mark of 142. As You Were is 2lb lower but, is unexposed and could likewise be overpriced at 33/1 and BetVictor paying 5 places.

Altior (3.30) is the star attraction on Ladies Day and should better the Willie Mullins pair of Min and Douvan in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Nicky Henderson’s gelding is the best horse in training on official ratings and showed outstanding resilience to make a winning return after an absence of over 300 days when beating Politologue in the Game Spirt Chase last month at Newbury. Altior, a winner at the last two festivals, is another likely to love the ground and is a confident selection to once again bring the Master of Seven Barrows into the Cheltenham winners’ enclosure.

The three races to complete the card aren’t big punting heats personally, but the ground has undeniably gone against Cause of Causes in the Cross-Country. I’ve heard plenty of whispers in the press room for The Last Samuri (4.10) who hasn’t been seen since finishing fourth in a strong renewal of the Cotswold Chase here on Trials Day and he looks the class act in the race for Kim Bailey and David Bass.

Eragan de Chanay (4.50) bolted-up on heavy ground at Sandown and sneaks into the Fred Winter under a penalty, which therefore puts him plenty ahead of the handicapper. He produced a telling turn of foot in the mud, producing a good time to boot, and must go close for Gary and Jamie Moore.

The bumper looks a minefield but it appears telling that Barry Geraghty has opted to partner Rhinestone (5.30) over Nick Gifford’s Didtheyleaveuoutto in the bumper. Joseph O’Brien’s well-bred son of Montjeu wasn’t disgraced when chasing home Blackbow last month at Leopardstown and with the benefit of experience should improve from that effort.

I do have a soft spot for JP’s other runner, with Didtheyleaveuoutto leaving a favourable impression when bolting-up in a listed bumper at Ascot and looks a terrific long-term prospect for connections.

Selections

1.30 Samcro

2.10 Monalee

2.50  Mount Mews        

3.30 Altior (Nap)

4.10 The Last Samuri

4.50 Eragan de Chenay

5.30 Rhinestone/Didtheyleaveuoutto

For all the latest odds head to www.BetVictor.com

Cheltenham Festival 2018; Tuesday, Day 1

Cheltenham Festival 2018

The festival curtain-raiser can often throw-up something of a surprise winner and, with the exception of the Mullins hat-trick of Champagne Fever, Vautour and Douvan, it is a race that has historically been favourable to the layers.

Getabrd runs for those oh so familiar connections in Tuesday’s opener and I expect him to drift markedly from his current position as the 7/4 market leader with BetVictor. The gelding has impressed in both hurdles successes this term however, there is little form to back up his current price and he definitely strikes me as a style over substance’.

His price collapsed after his  success last time out in the G2 Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle, with trainer Willie Mullins keen to keep him over the minimum trip. Nevertheless, connections were originally aiming over further at the start of the campaign and that, combined with his lack of form on heavy ground, makes him difficult to fancy at the prices.

BetVictor are paying four places on the race and I’m keen to back a couple at bigger prices. Kalashnikov produced a dour performance to win the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury but was previously put in his place by Summerville Boy (1.30) in the G1 Tolworth Hurdle and is somehow double the price at 8/1 and four places with BetVictor.

He tanked through the heavy ground at Sandown and has gone under the radar for trainer Tom George but looks the ideal type to thrive in a likely end-to-end gallop. The same can be said about Nicky Henderson’s Claimantakinforgan (1.30) who impressed in soft ground at Newbury and Ascot during the first-half of the campaign. Whilst disappointing last time out in Musselburgh, he is trainer Nicky Henderson’s sole runner in a race he historically has a good record in and reportedly thrived on the Lambourn gallops at the weekend. He looks too big at 14/1 and 4 places with BetVictor.

The Arkle gives us another warm favourite trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Ruby Walsh, and unbeaten this season over obstacles. Footpad has done nothing wrong in his three wins over the larger obstacles but left the impression that Petit Mouchoir could reverse the form when the pair next meet at Cheltenham. I expect him to get closer than his four-length defeat last month at Leopardstown, but Saint Calvados (2.10) looks a potential superstar for fledgling trainer Harry Whittington and gets the nod to complete the four-timer under Aidan Coleman.

The French import made a winning British debut at Newbury in the autumn and has improved to win his next two starts, including making all to land the Kingmaker last month at Warwick. He should relish conditions and can hopefully give Coleman a first G1 success.

Both Buveur D’Air (3.30) and Apple’s Jade (4.10) are odds-on for their respective G1 contests and I can’t find any chinks in their armours for the Champion Hurdle and Mares’ Hurdle. Both won the corresponding races at the track 12 months ago and should win with the minimum of fuss for Messrs Henderson and Elliott.

The latter has a strong hand in the National Hunt Chase and, despite Fagan missing the race at the 11^th hour, Jury Duty and Mossback ensure the handler has the two market principles under the excellent Jamie Codd and Lisa O’Neill. BetVictor are paying four places on the race and I cannot see Ms Parfois (4.50) being out of the first quartet.

Anthony Honeyball’s star mare has won three times already this season over fences and, although finding Black Corton too good at Ascot, should improve for the step up in trip under the excellent Will Biddick.

I was on Movewiththetimes in the Novices’ Handicap Chase that completes the card and it’s fascinating to see him go for Thursday’s Festival Plate with owner JP McManus instead relying on Any Second Now (5.30) for Ted and Mark Walsh.

The selection chased home both Invitation Only and Monalee, both favourites for G1 Novice Chases later on in the week,  in his first two starts over fences earlier in the campaign and looks the class act amongst the strong 20-runner field.

The Ultima is a notoriously tricky handicap but Coo Star Sivola (2.50) looks to have been laid out for the race to give jockey Lizzie Kelly a first festival success. The selection has formed tied in with excellent novices Movewiththetimes and Kalondra and relished the step up in trip when winning over three miles last month at Exeter. He looks well-treated despite a 7lb rise at the weights. 

Singlefarmpayment was a narrow second 12 months ago and should be there or thereabouts from just a 3lb higher mark.

Selections

1.30 Summerville Boy/Claimantakinforgan

2.10 Saint Calvados (Nap)

2.50 Coo Star Sivola/Singlefarmpayment

3.30 Buveur D’Air

4.10 Apple’s Jade

4.50 Ms Parfois

5.30 Any Second Now

For all the latest odds head to www.BetVictor.com

BetVictor Gold Cup winner Splash of Ginge steals the show at Cheltenham's November Meeting

The BetVictor Gold Cup invariably throws-up a feel-good story and the 2017 renewal was no exception, with Splash of Ginge winning for the most vocal of connections in the feature of the November Meeting at Cheltenham. The 9yo was scoring for the first time over fences since his course and distance success on New Year’s Day 2015 and relished conditions as the heavens opener over Prestbury Park.

Nibbled at 25/1 from 33s before the off, the mudlark denied the late lunge of David Pipe’s second-season chaser Starchitect who could potentially go one better in next month’s December Gold Cup should he get a preferred sounder surface. We should take nothing from the winner however, and indeed his trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who has now been responsible for saddling three of the last ten winners of the £160,000 Handicap Chase.

Imperial Commander, successful in 2008, would win the Cheltenham Gold Cup just 18 months later but Splash of Ginge has another spring festival in mind with the horse’s enthusiastic owner John Nield adamant the gelding would be aimed at the Grand National at Aintree. The Liverpudlian reportedly has £1000 at 1000/1 for his horses to win the world’s most famous steeplechase and BetVictor are 50/1 that Splash of Ginge creates yet further history at Aintree in the spring.

Elsewhere, it was a magnificent three days for trainer Colin Tizzard who saddled three graded winners and Fox Norton magnificent in retaining his Shloer Chase crown. The 7yo was narrowly touched-off in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but made amends at Aintree and Punchestown thereafter winning the G1 Melling and Punchestown Champion Chases with style and grace in the spring.

He looked better than ever when bolting-up on Sunday under Robbie Power and is now the 3/1 from 4s favourite with BetVictor for The Ryanair Chase and halved in price to 5/1 from 10s to go one better in the Queen Mother. Stablemate Finians Oscar set the ball rolling for connections on Friday when giving Movewiththetimes 8lb and a betting to maintain his unbeaten record over fences. The son of Flemensfirth will have learnt plenty from a real battle up the Cheltenham hill but came out with his reputation enhanced further and was cut to the 6/1 from 7s favourite for the JLT Novices/ Chase.

BetVictor make him a 10/1 chance for The Arkle Novices’ Chase with trainer Colin Tizzard hinting that connections may drop him back to the minimum trip. A horse that definitely has The Arkle as a spring target is North Hill Harvey who was big and bold when making it 2/2 over the larger obstacles under Harry Skelton on Sunday. Last year’s Greatwood winner has taken to fences like a duck to water and is now 16/1 from 25s with BetVictor for The Arkle after impressing in both chase success at Cheltenham’s opening two meetings of the campaign.

Last year’s winner Altior saw trainer Nicky Henderson hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons before the start of the meeting but the performances of Thomas Campbell and Apple’s Shaqira saw him bounce back with two brilliant hurdles successes on Saturday. The former was introduced into The Stayers Hurdle market as a 25/1 poke after getting a brilliant ride by 7lb claimer James Bowen to follow-up his recent course success. That was the teenager’s 31st success under rules and, despite his claim being reduced from 7lb to 5lb, he looks a future superstar in the saddle.

Seven Barrows’ other winner left quite an impression on plenty of us in the press room with Apple’s Shaqira the new 5/1 from 16s favourite for the Triumph Hurdle after a winning British debut under Barry Geraghty. Connections won the corresponding race 12 months ago with subsequent Triumph Hurdle winner Defi du Seuil and this filly, a full sister to multiple Group One winner Apple’s Jade, looks to have an almighty career ahead of her.

For all the latest odds head to BetVictor.com

Be Lucky

Scottish Open/John Deere Classic July 2017

Jon Rahm dominated a strong field at the Irish Open, winning at Portstewart by 6 shots and cut to 7/1 with BetVictor to win a first major in 2017. Rahm, now ranked the 8th best golfer in the world, shot a record-breaking -24 and now heads to the Open Championship as the 14/1 from 20s third favourite for the Claret Jug.

He is the fourth favourite behind 11/1 market leaders Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson but it was interesting to see Alex Noren attract support at bigger prices, bidding to make it 9 first-time major winners on the spin. The Swede won the Scottish Open 12 months ago and is 16/1 to win back-to-back Titles at Dundonald. Compatriot Henrik Stenson lifted the Claret Jug at Troon last summer and I expect Noren to go close at Royal Birkdale; the recent Wentworth winner is too big at 40/1 for Open Championship success next week.

Noren is too short at 16/1 this week and I much prefer the chances of Ross Fisher at more than double the price. Fisher has a terrific record playing links golf and has been the model of consistency this season; and has posted top-ten finishes in 6 of his last 8 events on tour.

He lost in a playoff at the Alfred Dunhill Championship back in 2008 and he finished second in that event again last year. He was seventh in this event two years ago boasts a terrific links pedigree that should see him hopefully reward each-way support. At bigger prices, I can see Scot Martin Laird out-perform his odds of 66/1, whilst another that thrives on conditions is Paul Dunne who played well in snatches during last week’s Irish Open.

Across the pond, there’s depleted field for the John Deere Classic where defending champion Ryan Moore should, much like Alex Noren, will go close to winning back-to-back Titles. Moore has suffered with his form this season on tour, and is therefore priced at a perhaps tempting 33/1 with BetVictor.

With injury doubts however, he must be overlooked and likewise with those above him in the market. Daniel Berger, Kyle Stanley and Kevin Kisner are all winners on the PGA Tour already this term, whilst the pair of Brian Harman and Charley Hoffman have suffered several near-misses despite being the model of consistency.

The value looks to be with those further down the market, and I like Bubba Watson at an eye-catching 50/1. Bubba has suffered with his game since returning from a strict diet that saw the two-time major winner shed 20lbs, however there was a lot to like about his recent top-ten finishes at both the Zurich Classic and the Memorial.

His scrambling should help him around the Illinois course, and that key component should put Chad Campbell in the frame after a recent upturn in fortunes. Campbell goes well at the course, firing a 62 here three years ago, and ranked number one on tour in scrambling looks over-priced at 66s.

Selections

Scottish Open
Ross Fisher 33/1 1pt ew
Martin Laird 66/1 0.5pts ew
Paul Dunne 80/1 0.5pts ew

John Deere Classic
Bubba Watson 50/1 1pt ew
Chad Campbell 66/1 0.5pts ew

For all your sporting odds check out BetVictor.com

Royal Ascot 2017; Friday, Day 4

We arrive at the fourth and penultimate day of Royal Ascot with those horrible bookmakers already plenty clear after three consecutive days of a well-backed hot-pot being turned over. Churchill’s disappointment in the St James’s Palace Stakes may have been a mere blip for punters had it not been for the pair of Happy Like a Fool and Order of St George bumping into a tough and hardy animals for the natives, with Clive Cox’s Heartache scorching clear in the Queen Mary Stakes and ‘people’s horse’ Big Orange virtually making all in the Gold Cup on Thursday.

Favourite backers have thus far been left licking their wounds and it will be fascinating to see whether the Coolmore juggernaut bounces back with the pair of Winter and Caravaggio on Friday. The former is unopposable as the 1/2 favourite with BetVictor for the Coronation Stakes but start with both Fairyland and Clemmie in the opening Gp 3 Albany Stakes over 6f.

Churchill arrived at Royal Ascot a maiden 12 months ago after a promising debut, and many will back his sister to do likewise after a promising effort finishing third at the Curragh despite showing signs of greenness throughout. She should improve for that effort however, Jessica Harrington’s filly Alpha Centauri (2.30) has looked monstrous on both career starts, winning twice at Naas under Colm Donoghue, and can compete the hat-trick upped in grade.

The King Edward VII Stakes is the Ascot Derby and I hope to see the lightly-raced Crystal Ocean (3.05) improve past his Dante Stakes conqueror Permian stepped up to a mile-and-a-half for the first time. Trainer Sir Michael Stoute has won this corresponding race no fewer than seven times including 12 months ago with another son of Sea The Stars (Across The Stars) and the Newmarket handler saved the colt from the rigours of Epsom to concentrate on this Group 2 prize.

The recommendation is 11/4 with BetVictor and that looks about right with money for both Aidan O’Brien’s Sir John Lavery (5/1) and Godolphin’s Best Of Days, who makes his seasonal reappearance, in recent days.

The Group 1 Commonwealth Cup looks like being one of the races of the week with three potential star British and Irish sprinters Caravaggio, Blue Point and Harry Angel (3.40) taken on by the unbeaten American colt Bound For Nowhere where was cut from 12s to 8s at BetVictor following sustained support earlier in the week.

Harry Angel was conceding 4lbs to Blue Point when the latter beat the selection over C&D back in May but the hope is that Clive Cox’s horse will reverse the form at the revised weights having clocked a very fast time when winning at Haydock last month. The selection is 7/2 at BetVictor and jockey Adam Kirby will race in the Blue of Godolphin for the first time given Sheikh Mohammed purchased the sprinter for an undisclosed sum after Haydock.

The unbeaten Caravaggio was an impressive winner of the Coventry Stakes at the corresponding meeting last season and made a sensational return to the track when landing the odds at Naas on his reappearance. He is a worthy favourite but he is a shade of odds on (10/11) with BetVictor and I just favour Harry Angel each way at the odds.

Winter (4.20) has been so impressive in winning both the Newmarket and Irish Guineas’ that she is impossible to oppose in the Coronation Stakes despite the fact that she has been kept very busy so far this term. This will be her fourth start since finishing runner up on her reappearance at Leopardstown back in April but she has improved with each run and is hard to oppose. Hydrangea and Dabyah will ensure there is a true gallop and the only negative, apart from the draw in stall seven, is her prohibitive price at 4/9 with BetVictor.

The first thing to say about the Queen’s Vase is that the race will be run at a trip just shy of 1m 6f for the first time – down two furlongs on previous years. The race has been upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 and has been reduced in trip to become a “true, quality race for developing stayers.”

Time To Study (5.00) is the 4/1 market leader at BetVictor for Mark Johnston who has trained the winner of the race on seven previous occasions and goes into the race just one shy of the record currently held by the late, great Sir Henry Cecil. Time To Study must go close with Silvestre de Sousa in the plate from a good draw.

In the finale, I hope Star Storm (5.35) can reward each way support at 16/1 with BetVictor for James Fanshawe who takes off 3lbs with talented apprentice George Wood. The selection invariably runs well at Ascot and he ran a cracker when runner up on his reappearance in a listed contest here last month. There are any number of potential dangers including Cape Cova, visored for the first time, and Sixties Groove but Star Storm gets the vote in another competitive handicap.

Selections
2.30 Alpha Centauri
3.05 Crystal Ocean
3.40 Harry Angel
4.20 Winter
5.00 Time to Study
5.35 Star Storm

For all your racing needs check out BetVictor.com

Royal Ascot 2017; Thursday; Day 3

Ladies Day at Royal Ascot begins with the Norfolk Stakes and the American juvenile McErin represents the yard of Wesley Ward who won this corresponding race back in 2013 courtesy of No Nay Never. The handler had a winner courtesy of Lady Aurelia on the opening day of the meeting you would imagine there would be plenty of support for McErin - although he was beaten last time out at Churchill Downs when last seen on dirt back in May.

The each way recommendation, however, is Santry (2.30) who represents the Malton yard of Declan Carroll and is unbeaten in two starts. The selection has not raced on fast ground but was impressive at York when giving weight and a beating to his seven rivals last time and at 6/1 with BetVictor he can keep the prize in Britain.

The Gp 3 Hampton Court Stakes has been won by the favourite in three of the last four years and BetVictor’s 4/1 market leader Mirage Dancer (3.05) ran an eye-catching race when fourth to the subsequent Derby runner up Cliffs Of Moher. A son of Frankel he is open to considerable improvement for Sir Michael Stoute and should reward each-way support with most firms paying four places.

The beautifully bred Mori (3.40) is a fascinating contender in the Ribblesdale and, after already receiving favourable market support, is a confident selection to land the Gp 2 content over a mile and a half. Newmarket gallop watchers were raving about this beautifully bred filly’s home-work and, after proving too inexperienced on debut at Newbury, shed the maiden tag at the second attempt under Ryan Moore at Ascot.

The Frankel filly, out of the multiple group one winning mare Midday, was well-backed prior to taking the Height of Fashion Stakes at Goodwood and this royal engagement appears to have been a well-thought out plan by trainer Sir Michael Stoute.

The Gold Cup is the highlight of the meeting for many and last year’s winner Order Of St George (4.20) is the one to beat and should give trainer Aidan O’Brien a 301st Group/Grade 1 success over both codes. The well-bred son of Galileo has been brought to the boil steadily by the Master of Ballydoyle; beaten when not fully found up on his seasonal reappearance but better than ever when bolting-up in the Gold Cup trial last month at Leopardstown.

He looks to have glimpses of former Ballydoyle star Yeats and it would be of no surprise if this hard and dour colt were to come back and win Thursday feature next year at the royal meeting.

The Britannia Stakes is a 32-runner cavalry charge and yesterday’s Hunt Cup might throw up some valuable clues as to whether there is any advantage in the draw. Hugo Palmer saddles Colibri from stall 32 who looks to have obvious claims from the right-wing however, after speaking to Coventry Stakes winning trainer Richard Spencer on Tuesday he immediately told the press room to back Keyser Soze (5.00) with most on the yard on at fancy prices earlier in the week.

The selection is up 10lb for bolting-up last time out on the all-weather but goes in the ‘could be anything’ category and connections remain bullish. He looks a fair price at 10/1 and 5 places to each way punters, with the trio of Lightning Fast (28/1), Senator (33/1) and Via Serendipity (40/1) perhaps all over-priced towards the foot of the weights.

I can’t get away from Atty Persse (5.35) in the closing 3yo handicap over a mile and a half, with the well-bred son of Frankel ear-marked as a potential derby horse by connections earlier in the spring and potentially well-treated from a mark of 93.

Trainer Roger Charlton has a fine record with runners at the royal meeting and jockey Kieran Shoemark’s 3lb claim, coupled with first-time head-gear, should see everything click into place for Atty Persse to bounce back from losing his unbeaten status last month at Haydock. I will also give a positive word for Tartini, who finished fourth in a competitive handicap on Derby Day at Epsom over a mile and a quarter, and should improve stepping up in trip.

Selections
2.30 Santry
3.05 Mirage Dancer
3.40 Mori (Nap)
4.20 Order of St George
5.00 Keyser Soze
5.35 Atty Persse

Royal Ascot 2017; Wednesday, Day 2

Wednesday’s feature is the Prince of Wales’s Stakes over a mile and a quarter for older horses and there isn’t a better one in training than Aidan O’Brien’s still under-appreciated globetrotter Highland Reel (4.20). The son of Galileo has won Group 1s in England, American and Hong Kong, and looked better than ever in the Coronation Cup last month at Epsom when battling bravely to see off the Godolphin pair of Hawkbill and Frontiersman.

He did everything wrong that day, arriving to the track late, sweating up and was very keen going to post. Despite this, he still bagged a 6th Group 1 and can add to that tally further dropping back in trip. The Ballydoyle charge is officially rated 3lb higher than main market rival Jack Hobbs, who has beaten him in both meetings at the Curragh and Meydan, but remains vulnerable on really quick ground in my opinion.

Prince of Wales’s Stakes prices from BetVictor
Highland Reel 9/4
Jack Hobbs 5/2
Ulysses 7/2
8/1 Bar

Andre Fabre’s filly Usherette looked a potential superstar when justifying favouritism to land the Duke of Cambridge Stakes 12 months ago, and must go close once again under Mikael Barzalona. However, she is another that will likely want a bit more juice in the ground and preference lies instead with Laugh Aloud (3.40) under regular partner James Doyle. I was at Epsom on Derby Day to see her dismantle a good field in the G3 Princess Elizabeth Stakes and, on her preferred sounder surface, is a confident selection to go in again upped in grade.

Fabre’s Le Brivido (2.30) lost his unbeaten record when finishing second in the French Guineas at Chantilly but the form of the race has worked out subsequently and he must go close dropping back in trip for the Jersey Stakes over 7f in the opener. The son of Siyouni failed to stay a mile on soft ground having previously won twice over 6f and today’s trip looks the perfect opportunity to bounce back to winning ways.

Wesley Ward has won the last two renewals of the Queen Mary with subsequent Gp 1 winning fillies Acapulco and Lady Aurelia and I expect him to complete the hat-trick with Happy Like a Place (3.05) for the Coolmore boys and Ryan Moore. The vibes surrounding the Distorted Humour have been incredibly positive and, after making a winning debut earlier in the season across the pond, should prove even better in first-time blinkers.

My shortlist for the Royal Hunt Cup was narrowed down from originally a double-figure list and such is the competitive nature of the mile handicap on the straight course that you could back at least a few, and still be unable to find the frame. Banksea got a typical Jamie Spencer ride to win the Spring Cup at Newbury and should be there or thereabouts again under a penalty. The same can be said about the pair of G K Chesterton and El Vip; who both took advantage of the race being an early-closer to win without being at the mercy of the handicapper thereafter.

Another that has likewise been let-in lightly is Fastnet Tempest (5.00), who followed-up his 7f success at Ascot by getting up late to score last time out at Chester. That success ensured a 5lb penalty to get into the race and, with further improvement likely now stepped up in trip to a mile, he can reward each-way support under Pat Cosgrave.

Favourite backers were sent home happy in the Sandringham Handicap 12 months ago, when Persuasive ensured it was a miserable day for bookmakers, bolting-up for John Gosden and Frankie Dettori. She looked chucked-in on the day and the pair are likely to go close once more with Present Tense once more. The Bated Breath filly is one of three for trainer John Gosden but the market currently favours stablemate Gymnaste under the excellent Josephine Gordon.

Ireland have won the race just once ten years but I can see that record being broken, with Bean Feasa (5.35) getting the nod under Kevin Manning. Jim Bolger’s filly was apparently working sparkling in her work last year as a juvenile, but needed time to fill into her frame and has thrived since returning in the spring. After winning a Gp 3 at Leopardstown she was far from disgraced in the Irish Guineas behind superstar filly Winter and looks the quintessential group horse in a handicap.

Selections
2.30 Le Brivido
3.05 Happy Like a Place
3.40 Laugh Aloud
4.20 Highland Reel
5.00 Fastnet Tempest
5.35 Bean Feasa