The ITV Racing cameras will be capturing action from up and down the country on Saturday, with Beverley, Chester and Sandown all live on the channel. To mark your cards, GG’s in-house tipster has five selections worth an interest.
1.50 Sandown – Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Handicap
There is a good mixture of in-form horses, wily veterans and course specialists to pick through in the opener at Sandown. It is a member of that first category who gets the vote with the four-year-old FEEL THE NEED potentially on the up quicker than most.
He had appeared fairly tripless when trained by David O’Meara last season, failing to register a victory and tumbling 11lb down the weights. However, after a couple of eyecatching runs when devoid of room after joining Michael Herrington’s yard in Lincolnshire, he has found his feet, with 7f evidently a distance he performs well over. All five of his runs for his new yard have been at the trip.
Lately, he has form of 212, the latter pair of efforts coming at York in 18 and 16-runner fields. The second and fifth from his victory both won on their next starts, while he was second to a winner who has gone in thrice more since most latterly. That is top form, and he managed to do that when held up in York which earns him a further upgrade. Should a 78-day break not have induced too much freshness, he should be very competitive.
2.05 Beverley – William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed)
This is superbly open, with any of the seven runners able to go off favourite with enough market support. Staincliff is interesting as a very unexposed type for Jack Channon, but preference is for the proven form of COMMANCHE FALLS, which was on display yet again at York last weekend.
Michael Dods’ veteran was third in a very competitive handicap off a mark of 107, which is easily enough to suggest he is still Group race quality on his day. His second to Believing at Listed level earlier this season came on his first start over 5f, as he usually races at 6f, but he showed plenty of aptitude for it.
The winner was runner-up in the Nunthorpe at the weekend and the selection pulled six lengths clear of the third. It is well worth trying him again at this distance, as he has the best form on his CV in this contest and he may prove the one they have to beat.
2.25 Sandown – Sky Bet Atalanta Stakes (Group 3)
It would appear that Tamfana will go off a warm order dropped in class here, but she is far from a guarantee to be victorious. She made the frame in two Classics, finishing fourth in the 1000 Guineas and third in the French Oaks, but this drop in trip to 1m is substantial given she was last seen racing over 1m4f on soft ground in the Grand Prix de Paris.
She acquitted herself well that day too, but despite finishing with a flourish at Newmarket for her fourth in the Guineas, that does not convince that this should really be her distance. On breeding, her last two races should have been much more to her liking, so preference instead is for the proven mile DOOM, who has run in two strong Group races at Ascot so far this season.
William Haggas’ filly finished ahead of two subsequent Group winners when third in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at the royal meeting, and found only the highly progressive Friendly Soul too good last time out. However, she travelled kindly into that contest and the fourth that day has also won since. Overall, she looks a rock solid each-way bet and could well upset Tamfana if she lacks the requisite pace.
3.15 Chester – Virgin Bet Chester Stakes (Listed)
Just over a year ago ABSURDE won the Ebor with Caius Chorister three lengths behind in sixth, Willie Mullins’ charge conceding 5lb to David Menuisier’s mare. They meet again under the exact same conditions here at Chester, and the same result can be expected despite the selection being three times the price of Caius Chorister to confirm that form.
She has gone on to win at Group level since, while also threatening to land both the Sagaro and Henry II Stakes over 2m earlier this term. However, her form has dipped slightly recently, and Absurde can also claim to have run well in the Melbourne Cup and won at the Cheltenham Festival since last year’s Ebor too.
He has been a high class performer under both codes and so while his return to the flat was a blowout in the Irish St Leger Trial, he was coming back from 155 days off the track. That race was also very unsatisfactory from a pace perspective, with the winner now one of the market leaders for the St Leger anyway, so this looks much more realistic. He should come on plenty and be tough to beat if on his game.
3.35 Sandown – Sky Bet Solario Stakes (Group 3)
Hopefully the full eight runners remain in this juvenile Group 3, as VICTORY SOUND is a big-priced selection to hit the frame in the final ITV race. While this race has been the domain of short-priced winners in the last decade (no winner bigger than 4/1), there have been a fair few to place at 14/1 and above too, which gives hope to Charlie Hills’ two-year-old.
The son of Churchill has plenty of winning half-siblings up to a decent level, himself becoming one on his second start at Haydock after fading only late on on his debut at Goodwood. The third and sixth from Haydock have won subsequently though, with the former now rated 101 and having finished third in the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.
The selection travelled particularly strongly that day, and also did well to reel in a winner who had appeared to give the field the slip. He therefore rates better than the bare performance, and might not be far behind the other unexposed types favoured by the betting.
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