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15:42 Sandown
A nursery over 5F to start another exciting Sunday Series card, Miss Attitude has shown blistering pace in her races so far. She is two out of two in nurseries and has been impressive in those, the handicapper has had his say though and she has been raised 10lb for the second of the wins. Safari Dream also won on nursery debut and that was over C&D but perhaps that was not the strongest of races and he has been given a harsh rise of 8lbs.
Iato’s Angel looks to have been given a lenient handicap mark, who I am sure will exploit it sooner rather than later. She won last time out at Hamilton quite snugly after being slow away, the form of that race is strong with the second running well at York in the week. That win came over 6F but she doesn’t look short of speed and will be guaranteed a strong pace to aim at with Miss Attitude in the race.
IATO’S ANGEL (E/W)
written by Michael Taylor 16:12 Sandown
Devil’s Angel is a dual course and distance winner and was last seen scoring over six furlongs at Haydock, in another hot Sunday Series race. His proven record puts him in with a shout but connections aren’t in brilliant form lately. As well as this, he’d have to post a career best performance to win off a rise of 7 lbs. Others may well be more appealing.
Lord Riddiford is a consistent performer and is the joint top weight today. He’s won eleven times over five furlongs and connections are going well lately. He’s never raced at Sandown, which may or may not go against him. He’s a likeable sort but the main concern is that he’s been raised 3 lbs and is up against it, given his allocated weight and his current rating.
Primo’s Comet has also never raced at Sandown but is at the bottom end of the weights. He won for the first time this year, two races ago, at Musselburgh. He franked that by finishing a fine fourth at York, in the ‘Jim Jockeys Nunthorpe’ over five furlongs. He was lowered by a pound for that effort, so seems kindly treated. Most notably though, he represents the same winning connections from last year, in William Buick and Jim Goldie. He has more claims than most today.
PRIMO’S COMET (WIN)
written by Kieran McHugh
16:42 Sandown
As with many newcomer races much can be gleamed from the market, Charlie Appleby is certainly a man to follow in these races and he has two big contenders. Going by jockey bookings the Dubawi colt Tabaretta would be the one of the two to kept the closest eye on, a E650,000 yearling half-brother to Group 3 2yo winner he ought to be sharp. Sean Woods has a few first time out winner and the booking of Cieran Fallon on Dasho Lennie catches the eye and another to watch in the market.
I will take a chance on the Cracksman colt Elwasme for Andrew Balding and David Probert, he is a half-brother to 6 winners including black type performer Beshaayir. I am a big fan of Cracksman as a sire and his offspring have been doing well so far this season including a listed winner. The dam was high class and competed at stakes level on 28 of her 30 starts so this colt is certainly exciting on paper.
ELWASME (E/W)
written by Michael Taylor 17:12 Sandown
Three of the contenders for this contest come into the race looking to land hat-tricks. Andaleep was a comfortable winner last time out at Beverley having a good run of the race. He does have a penalty to contend with and as the likely favourite here today, I think he’s worth taking on as he hasn’t fared very well in large fields either in the last eighteen months.
Pledge Of Honour has a fantastic strike rate for Dean Ivory and his team. He’s won four times already in 2022 and looks a big contender today. He also has a penalty to shoulder but with the impressive way he travelled through the race last time, coupled with the likely strong pace here, makes him a likely contender despite the extra 6lb on his back. William Cox is also one of the most capable apprentices in the field.
Irish raider Five Zeros is the other hat-trick seeker, sneaking in at the bottom of the handicap and she drops in trip here for this race. Gina Mangan takes off a useful 3lbs, however despite the fact she did win a large field event at Navan earlier in the year, I think the drop in trip is enough of a question mark for me to look elsewhere.
Anythingtoday wouldn’t be winning out of turn making his second start for the Roger Fell yard and he has never been out of the first four when racing in this grade. His current odds look huge and he would be well worth taking a chance on with Jonny Peate onboard.
No chances were taken by the handicapper with Glen Savage on handicap debut and he didn’t finish off his race very well at all. The drop in distance may help him as he is gaining more experience but it would be a great performance were he able to turn it around in a field of this size on only his fourth start off top weight.
I’m siding with Anythingtoday here from those huge odds to run another cracking race each way with Pledge of Honour taking as the main danger.
ANYTHINGTODAY (E/W)
written by Tom Bates
17.42 Sandown
A mile and one furlong handicap for the fillies and mares.
Precisely is in cracking form currently, winning her latest two starts. She has also beaten two subsequent winners in those races, so that form is rock solid. Add that to the fact she’s only seven pounds higher than the first of those victories, she has an undeniable chance.
There are a couple of improving three year old's in here though, that could potentially give her something to think about. The first of those is Prism who enjoyed the step up to this trip last time, and if the extra distance is the key to this filly, it may eek out some more improvement.
The selection is going to be Follow That Star. She has yet to get her head in front in five starts to date, however there certainly has been improvement with each run. Her latest start over course and distance was a solid effort, and she’s going to love every inch of this trip and even further in time. She represents some value.
FOLLOW THAT STAR (WIN)
written by Matt Polley
18:12 Sandown
The penultimate race at Sandown today is a mile handicap where many of the runners come into this contest in great form and hold solid claims today.
The improving Helm Rock has been a comfortable winner of his last two starts, however he may not find things so easy up on the front end today so it would be a good performance from him to land the hat-trick here.
Lightly raced three-year-old Ikhtiraaq is also seeking his third win on the bounce, however this a much deeper and more competitive race than the ones he won at Yarmouth and at Pontefract last time out so he is passed over at his likely short odds, despite receiving the help of the weight for age allowance.
Enigmatic has been running well this year falling to a competitive mark again but he may just need the handicapper to relent a little more before he is interesting for win purposes.
I’m going to side today with course and distance winner Mercurius Power. Despite some indifferent form, the Andrew Balding trained runner has run two of his best races here at Sandown this year and with William Buick on board, he may just be able to take advantage of perfect conditions here and I’m siding with the King Power Racing runner each way to take this contest.
MERCURIUS POWER (E/W) written by Tom Bates 18:42 Sandown
A competitive staying handicap where the hat-trick chasing Aggagio gets the nod to continue his winning spree. The lightly-raced son of Born To Sea is a five-time winner who’s versatile regards ground and won with something in hand on his last two starts. The ultra-consistent El Picador has found improvement since stepping up in grade and was far from disgraced when chasing home Irish raider Run For Oscar at Haydock. A two-pound hike seems fair for that performance and he should be involved.
The well-bred Happy represents the in-form Mark Johnston team but he’s ultimately been disappointing with just one victory to his name and will need the application of a first-time visor to bring about improvement.
The rapidly improving Evaluation and recent winner Single should be involved.
AGGAGIO (WIN) written by Peter Keogh