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13:45 Haydock The threat of rain is a potential fly in the ointment for most punters on this card today and connections of Subcontinent are sure to be praying it stays away. A nicely progressive type, he seemingly has to lead and has so far proven himself to be at home on quicker ground. Should the rain stay away he has every chance of going in again but a chance is going to be taken that the heavens open and he is taken on for that reason alone. Jumeirah Glory had threatened win a good contest and did just that when winning over course and distance the last day, the second has since gone in so the form has a solid look to it. The Fahey challenger will also go on the ground should it rain so a follow up is a serious possibility, the negative for him is that he appeared to want to throw the race away and has been hit with a 10lbs penalty. Sir Michael Stoute’s string continue to infuriate punters with their inconsistency, the yard ought to know where they stand with a few of these though and the twice raced Hakka is interesting on his handicap debut. Impressive enough in a maiden the last day, his pedigree gives mixed messages about the trip but he has plenty of scope about him and is handed the vote. Hakka (WIN)
14:00 Sandown The evergreen Kingsgate Native showed his enthusiasm for the game is still alive and kicking when comfortably seeing off the fast improving Out Do at Haydock last time and bids to win this having finished second in the last two renewals. Heartbreakingly for us, trading currently at odds of 7/1 he offers very little in terms of each way value and though is difficult, this will be run to suit and he is very much respected in a race he’s quite clearly capable of winning. Waady is a nice improving type who is unbeaten in three runs here, a shade fortunate to get first run on a fast finisher shouldn’t be interpreted as a lucky winner as he was staying on strongly enough and his profile is most appealing. Despite this being a big step up in class, the Gosden runner is handed the vote to prove himself up to the job. Stepper Point should ensure a fast gallop and outsider Son Of Africa is interesting given his trainers prowess with sprinters. Waady (WIN)
14:15 Haydock Miss Marjurie beat the re-opposing Queen Of Ice, Jordan Princess, Criteria and Lady Tiana here the last day and bids to claim the hat-trick today, connections of all the re-opposing beaten horses will all claim to have better chances today and whilst that is probably true, there was no fluke about that actual result. Lady Tiana will probably need the heavens to open to win but as the rain is expected, she looks an extremely likely type having left a strong impression at the backend of last season on soft ground at Doncaster. Lucy Wadham’s mare took two runs to find her feet last season and though she has ground to find with Miss Marjurie, she is taken to avenge that defeat and will likely go off favourite should it rain. Dark Crusader is an interesting challenger from Ireland must be monitored in the market for her shrewd connections, she has plenty enough to find this term though so only a strong move would interest us. Lady Tiana (WIN)
14:35 Sandown Tournament is double entered on todays card ( 17:10 ) so punters must be aware should he not take this option up, if connections decided to run however his chance would have to be respected. Visually extremely unlucky in the run at Ayr, he looks the type to close given a gallop to run at and though he must improve, he does look a good each way bet at the odds and could cause an upset. Sahaafy went into Royal Ascot with strong looking handicap form and was duly very heavily backed in the Britannia, in the event he could never land a blow but a return to form shouldn’t be discounted even if that loss was a tough one to swallow. Spark Plug looked beaten when falling after clipping heels at Royal Ascot last time, he has every chance against these though and shouldn’t be too harshly judged on what was a pure accident. Ifwecan is tough and made all last time, his handler will likely have aimed him here and a big run looks likely. The intriguing challenger however is Godolphins Basem, a full brother to the top class Farhh, he has improved nicely and won here last time when beating the re-opposing Jacob Black a neck. The latter is a front runner and though handicapped to go close, competition for the lead looks likely and his chance has to be considered compromised as such. Baltic Knight is very useful on his day, quite what to expect from him is hard to judge but he is one of the interesting outsiders. Fire Ship is tough but exposed and Boomshackerlacker has had plenty enough of chances in similar races all of which leads us to the conclusion that Basem is likely to be hard to beat. Basem (WIN) Tournament (E/W) (Worth watching in the 17:10 if a NR here)
14:50 Haydock This looks a proper handicap with almost all having something to recommend them on, most punters will likely play small but the intrigue is most certainly there and anything really could win. John Reel finished a fine sixth in the Chester Cup and filled the same position over 2 miles when last seen. The drop in trip is at face value a likely negative but should it become softish, he is likely to be one of them running on strongly and is handed a speculative vote at rewarding odds. Another likely sort to be running on late is the bottom weighted Apterix, he got up very late in the day at York in a Lady amateur race last time and whilst this is miles tougher he is extremely unexposed and in the hands of a trainer who excels with similar types. Penhill is about as hit and miss as they come but would take some beating if consenting, beaten at short odds the last day was very disappointing though and whilst we respect him, he has burnt many a finger before. Gabrial’s Star is basically slow and exposed, there is little doubt he could play a big part though and a market check is a must. Battersea is the potential dark horse, a good winner of two valuable handicaps last season he was said to have been over the top on his final appearance and a return to the winners enclosure is sure to be close. The Varian challenger will do well to go in first time up against some fit rivals however and so he can only be watched for future purposes. John Reel (E/W)
15:10 Sandown This really ought to be a long awaited return to the winners enclosure for the infuriating and sometimes quirky looking Jellicle Ball. With the top two ratings in this field the Gosden runner would probably only have to reproduce her last run at Royal Ascot and so despite looking quirky, she simply cane opposed despite the obvious concerns. Black Cherry is in good heart and looks the likeliest to take advantage of any flaws of the aforementioned Jellicle Ball, she could hardly have been anymore impressive here last time and is a big player for her top connections. Blond Me, Iconic and Bella Nostalgia all have squeaks given there performances the last day, they all have plenty to find however and there will be much easier races in the future than this. Jellicle Ball (WIN)
15:45 Sandown The high class, The Grey Gatsby was most unlucky when failing to reel in Free Eagle at Royal Ascot and he desperately deserves compensation somewhere down the line. Quite whether he will be good enough to lower the colours of a potential superstar in this is open to question but he has before lowered the colours of a special horse and he deserves the upmost respect. Golden Horn has never tasted defeat and rather easily off some very classy types in the Dante before showing any stamina doubts to be all wrong when an winner of the Derby. The form of his is very difficult to knock and the weight allowances in this means he cannot be taken on. Despite concerns over how tactical this could become, he looks very special and he also knows how to battle, it may not be the most original advice but he will surely win and if he weren’t to it would be a major disappointment. The rest ate very difficult to fancy for win purposes but both Western Hymn and Cougar Mountain will surely find races before long. Golden Horn (WIN)