Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I am looking at this evening’s top class card at Sandown.
Future Winners Deliver
Each Tuesday, I highlight horses I think will be in the winner’s enclosure within their next three starts. That approach paid off again on Saturday as French Master scored at Goodwood and Skukuza landed a valuable handicap at the Curragh.
French Master took the 1m6f BetGoodwin Download The App Handicap in good style. I think that race will work out well. The runner-up Story Horse was a last-time-out Newmarket winner, and Dancing In Paris, who finished third, had solid handicap form last season.
Here’s what I wrote in the column after French Master’s reappearance at Newmarket:
“Runner-up in the 1m4f handicap. The slow pace didn’t help him, and he wasn’t given a hard time. Lightly raced, he could stay even further and is one to keep on side in the coming weeks.”
Normally, once a horse wins, I remove them from the tracker—but not this one. He’s only going to improve. He could easily be aimed at races like the Northumberland Plate, or even the Ebor Handicap. Big-field handicaps with a strong pace will suit him even better, and I genuinely believe he’s a Group horse in the making over 1m6f–2m.
The third, Dancing In Paris, is also worth a mention. He didn’t get a clean run in the straight and was only beaten half a length. He’ll remain competitive in similar staying handicaps over the coming weeks.
Skukuza won the QuinnBet Emerald Mile Premier Handicap at the Curragh with a smart turn of foot. Held up, he made smooth headway 2f out and put the race to bed inside the final furlong, scoring by 2½ lengths.
Runner-up in last year’s Britannia Handicap at Royal Ascot, he now heads many Hunt Cup shortlists—and he’s top of mine.
Weekend Pointers: York
In yesterday’s column I previewed three of Saturday’s ITV races at Haydock. Today, the focus shifts to York.
2:40 – William Hill More Top Prices Handicap (5f)
Jm Jungle (4/1) heads the betting with the sponsors after finishing 2nd of 17 over C&D at the Dante Meeting. He’s a solid contender, though 4/1 looks short considering we don’t know the draw yet.
Two horses from my future winner’s column – Loom (8/1) and Jer Batt (14/1) – were among the entries on Monday. Loom shaped nicely when second over C&D last time and hails from a yard that won this in 2018. Jer Batt never got involved at Chester from a poor draw and is best forgiven that run. He looks overpriced at 14/1, though that could suggest he’s a doubtful runner for a yard out of form.
Venture Capital (10/1) is progressive. He’s won five of 14 and scored nicely at Ripon last time. There should be plenty more to come on turf this summer.
Balmoral Lady (16/1) caught the eye when third at Chester on seasonal return. She’ll be interesting if the rain eases conditions. Holds a Listed entry at Haydock too.
Duran has solid credentials as a C&D and Haydock winner last time. However, Nigel Tinkler’s record with last-time-out handicap scorers isn’t great.
3:15 – William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies' Stakes (Group 3, 1m6f)
Poor race planning means this clashes with Haydock’s Lester Piggott Stakes. No shock then that nine fillies are doubly declared.
Scenic (7/2) ran well when runner-up at Goodwood on her return and won the Listed Galtres (1m 4f) here last year. She goes well at York and should come on for that reappearance.
Term Of Endearment (7/2) took this last year and now runs for William Haggas, who landed the prize in 2019.
The Gosden yard could saddle three:
Sueno (5/1) was 2 ½ lengths behind Scenic at Goodwood but remains unexposed and shaped last time like the step up to 1m 6f will suit. Ryan Moore is booked, which catches the eye.
Jane Temple (10/1) arrives in form after two AW wins. Another lightly raced filly and there should be more to come on turf debut.
Danielle (6/1) is more exposed. She lacks a jockey booking and may prefer softer ground.
Divina Grace (9/2) is admirably consistent. She enjoys fast ground and will relish a return to fillies-only company.
Allonsy (16/1), fifth to Shaha at Goodwood, will strip fitter here and is open to improvement back up in trip. She has place claims if taking a step forward.
Thursday Racing – Sandown (Evening)
A cracking card at Sandown tonight featuring four quality races: two Group 3s, a Listed juvenile sprint, and the Heron Stakes.
6:05 – Handicap (1m)
Winston’s Warrior went close at Southwell on return and races off just 4lb higher. He stays well and should be competitive if handling turf.
Rockin’ The Boat ran a personal best at Newmarket behind subsequent winner Silver Ghost. The step up to a mile should suit. Yard is quiet but Ryan Moore has a 32% strike rate when teaming up here. She has plenty more to come.
6:35 – Star Sports National Stakes (Listed, 5f)
First Legion, a 500,000 gns breeze-up buy, impressed at York (6f) on debut. He’s got a turn of foot and the drop to 5f shouldn’t be an issue.
Clear Force made all to win at Ripon. The runner-up has since won a Listed race at York. There’s plenty more to come from him too.
7:05 – Henry II Stakes (Group 3, 2m)
Trawlerman is clear on form after chasing home Kyprios in last year’s Gold Cup. Last win came in the 2023 Long Distance Cup at Ascot, but this looks a good opening.
Coltrane, a C&D winner, ran a solid second in the Sagaro on return and is the main threat if the favourite needs the run.
Al Nayyir was just touched off by Vauban in the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York last August and rates a big danger if in that form here.
7:35 – Brigadier Gerard Stakes (Group 3, 1m2f)
An above-average renewal.
Ombudsman is unbeaten in four starts and won a Group 3 at Longchamp last September. He gives 3lb away away but has more to give and Ryan Moore rides.
Ancient Wisdom was second to Al Aasy over in the Gordon Richards Stakes C&D last time and would prefer soft ground. Buick, however, prefers Military Order, who returned from a year off to win a Listed race at Kempton. If he can translate his all-weather form to turf needs respecting.
Almaqam was third in that Gordon Richards and could reverse form with fitness now on his side. A big player but wouldn’t want really quick ground.
Enfjaar is 3-3 on seasonal return, ticks the boxes marked distance and going and may outrun his odds despite needing a career best.
8:05 – Heron Stakes (Listed, 1m)
Nebras, a half-brother to multiple Group 1 winner Nashwa, was second in a Newmarket Listed race over 1m2f and is interesting dropped back in trip. First-time cheekpieces go on. The yard has won this three times since 2018.
Bay City Roller made it 3-3 when winning the Group 2 Champagne Stakes (7f) at Doncaster last September. Must give his rivals 5lb on seasonal return but on pedigree should be suited by a mile as a 3-year-old and respected. Trainer told the Racing Post he would walk the track so he may not run.
8:40 – Whitsun Cup Handicap (Class 3, 1m)
The biggest field of the night and a typically tricky closer.
Golden Ocean looks intriguing on stable debut. He ended last year with back-to-back wins at Navan and could have plenty more to come as a 4-year-old.
Surrey Shadow ran well when fourth in the Spring Mile at Doncaster and looks the type to progress further over a mile.
Atlantic Gamble won six in a row last year. He’s struggled with slow starts on two starts this term, but he’s now just 1lb above his last win so competitively weighted if bouncing back. Yard won the race last year.
My Sandown picks can be found here.
Good luck with your Thursday bets.
John