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13:50 Sandown
The opening race from ITV today is the Coral Charge and looks a very open race on paper with several who would be in with a chance of landing the spoils.
Mitbaahy will be very popular for this event in his bid for a hat-trick following his win at Hamilton and a listed victory over course and distance. He will likely get very similar ground today and in the end he easily dispatched higher rated opponents in that listed win. David Egan keeps the ride and he has serious form claims here.
The main danger to him in the betting, looks to come in the form of Raasel. It’s strange to think he was rated just 73 this time last year but is now a completely different proposition. He was strong to the finish last time out at Haydock when he ran on to beat Dragon Symbol and must also be respected despite that horse not doing much for the form at Royal Ascot.
Arecibo should have a big each way chance if he brings some of his best form to the table, though he would not really be of interest at his current single-figure odds.
My vote here goes each way to the filly Nymphadora. Her fillies and age allowance bring her right into contention here on ratings and she has been very consistent so far this season, she is definitely suggesting that her time might be near in a race such as this and, with William Buick up, I am taking her to take the prize here at a nice price.
NYMPHADORA (E/W) written by Tom Bates 14:05 Haydock
Sea King looked rather impressive last time out when scoring with ease at Doncaster. Tbe mannerism in which he won would suggest that he shouldn’t face too much of a stiff task now upped in trip. He may well be progressive but he has been raided nine pounds for his efforts at Doncaster, from which the form hasn’t worked out brilliantly. He could be opposable today.
Nathanael Greene is the representative for the inform William Haggas stables and Cieren Fallon. He’s come into his own since being gelded and maturing more. He made his reappearence a successful one and might well have been unlucky at Musselburgh the time after. Moreover, he was only just narrowly denied at Goodwood on his last start. He debuts cheek pieces for the first time which could help him. He might well have a chance but stamina could be an issue.
Giavellotto won on his debut at a massive 100/1 and followed it up with a facile success three months later at Newcastle. He was denied a clear run at Sandown but was nevertheless disappointing, when being beaten into fourth despite going off as favourite. He was stepped up in trip to the St Leger distance at Doncaster, when he finished third beaten a length by a potentially smart horse from the Gosden barn. He wears a hood for the first time and Neil Callan is in good form. He has too many positives to be overlooked today, especially at larger odds.
GIAVELLOTTO (E/W)
written by Kieran McHugh
14:25 Sandown
The weather could play a significant part in this and any serious rain would put a different spin on the race, however, with only moderate showers forecast we can only go with that and the current ground is described as ''Good-good to firm in places''. Ouzo has shown a liking for this course and his fourth in last season's Royal Hunt Cup reads well in the context of this, second here two starts back and best forgiven for flopping at Ascot last time out, he appears on a workable mark and Saffie Osborne takes off a handy three pounds. Hailing from a yard amongst the winners and appearing well drawn in stall three, he is suggested as an each way angle into the race.
Sinjaari travelled like a dream at Royal Ascot and was desperately unlucky not to have gone closer, quite why or what his rider thought was happening that day is open to question although one cannot help but be slightly critical of the ride and the handicappers decision to drop him a pound in the weights looks equally baffling. Granted a serious pace to aim at and with normal luck in the run, compensation may well await despite the fact he probably wants further.
Checkandchallenge was beaten a long way out in the Guineas and is hard to judge on that, raced just the three times to date, he is rather difficult to judge overall although he did beat a very good horse on his debut and he is clearly open to any amount of improvement.
Escobar probably wants significant rain and his mark makes this very difficult, he does like it here however and a big run wouldn't be much of a surprise. Lion Tower probably had the run of the race when scoring at York last time and that form looks fairly suspect as a result, there can be no knocking the horse however as he is clearly progressive and respect is afforded despite him being taken on. Darkness will surely in a race at some point and he is another who would appeal if the rain came, however, Ouzo makes most appeal and he is taken to pinch a place at fair odds.
OUZO (E/W) written by Chris Connolly 14:40 Haydock
Seven quality fillies and mares go to post for this Group 2 Lancashire Oaks.
Free Wind has yet to see the racecourse as a four year old, but rounded off her three year old campaign with ridiculous ease when romping to success in the Park Hill Stakes. There’s a question whether she might just need this, especially if the ground softens further and makes it a test.
Eshaada won’t mind any easing of the ground having proved herself already when winning her two year old maiden on testing going. She stays well and should have come on from her seasonal debut. She’s best in here at the weights and has an astounding chance.
The selection will be the three year old Stay Alert who looks good value (7s at time of writing). She has improved with every run since making her racecourse debut back in January. Her penultimate start she finished a running on second to French Oaks winner Nashwa and then duly hacked up in a listed race at Newbury last time out. The ground will be fine, and she looks to be crying out for a mile and a half, which her pedigree backs up. She has a little to died at the weights, but looks worthy of her place.
STAY ALERT (WIN)
written by Matt Polley 15:00 Sandown
The Coral Distaff will see eight fillies do battle for this Listed contest but on figures only four conceivably have a chance of taking this. Heredia will be very popular with the punters and rightly so as she made it four from four at Royal Ascot last time out in a very competitive handicap, she deserves this chance at pattern level and may well take all the beating. John & Thady Gosden have Grande Dame and have Ryan Moore in the saddle after the well-publicised “sabbatical” between themselves and Frankie. The Lope De Vega filly is making her seasonal debut and perhaps the lack of match practise may count against her. Oscula was a sharp high class 2yo but her form had tailed off prior to winning at this level at Carlisle 10 days ago. I would want to see her string a few good efforts together before siding with her again especially with the penalty she carries.
Fast Attack is the one for me as she has shown form at Group level including when winning a Group 3 at Newmarket the last backend, she won going away that day and she looked to be a very exciting filly for this year. Although slightly disappointing in the German 1000 Guineas, that was her first run of the season and she will have come on for that and she can confirm last season's promise.
FAST ATTACK (WIN) written by Michael Taylor 15:15 Haydock
Gaassee arrives here having won his last four, two on an all-weather surface and two on turf, with his latest victory coming at York in May. He is proven over the trip, has winning form on soft ground and both his trainer and jockey have been amongst the winners in recent weeks so he seems to tick all of the boxes you would want to see ticked, yet at such a short price I’m keen to take him on.
Trawlerman disappointed at Royal Ascot when last seen but had won two from three prior to that effort and also ran with credit when sixth in the Group 3 Bet365 Classic Trial at Sandown last season, a race that pitched him against rivals such as Alenquer, Adayer and Yibir. He’s perhaps not the most consistent but does hold plenty of ability if arriving on a good day so could be one for each way backers.
Get Shirty has been in excellent form this year, posting results of 1211 and proving himself versatile in terms of trip and ground in the process. His last victory at Royal Ascot in June saw him stay on strongly to beat a decent field that included a hot Aidan O’Brien favourite so he needs to be considered again despite a 6lbs rise for that success.
Liverpool Knight was a convincing winner at Windsor on stable debut, travelling smoothly and cruising to the lead before striding away from rivals to win by over three lengths and with the jockey able to ease up close home. He’s gone up 6lbs but looked to have plenty left in the tank so looks sure to go well again even though this is a tougher race.
LIVERPOOL KNIGHT (E/W) written by Dean Kilbryde 15:35 Sandown
A fascinating renewal of the Coral-Eclipse with the two classic generation colts at the top of the market. Native Trail won the Dewhurst on his final two-year-old start and made amends for a near-miss at Newmarket when comfortably landing the Irish 2000 Guineas at the Curragh. Charlie Appleby’s charge hit the line strong that day, which would suggest he’ll get the trip, but it wouldn’t be a certainty on pedigree.
Vadeni was a comfortable winner of the French Derby last month and connections took the decision to supplement the son of Churchill on the back of that win. Any rain at Sandown would enhance his chance and he’s the worthy favourite. William Haggas continues to have his string in fine fettle (24%) and his Bay Bridge continues his upward curve, going from a mark of 78 to filling the runner-up berth in a Group 1 behind the classy State Of Rest most recently. That form is amongst the best on offer and he shouldn’t be ruled out.
Course and distance winner Alenquer sets a good standard having stayed on well to win the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh in May. Even though he’s rated only a few pounds lower than the likely market leaders, he may be vulnerable to their younger legs.
VADENI (WIN) written by Peter Keogh