Sandown Preview

Hi all,

The clash of the generations between Emily Upjohn is on with both being declared for Saturday’s Coral-Eclipse. Sadly, there’s no Anmaat who had developed an abscess on his foot. Paddington’s stablemate Luxembourg also wasn’t declared. That just leaves a field of four the tomorrow's big race.

Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse meeting gets underway this afternoon. There are three Listed contests on a seven race card including the Coral Marathon (3.05). Besides Sandown there are flat meetings at Doncaster Haydock and Beverley.

Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of Friday’s action. 

First though a recent article in the Racing Post that I thought was worthy of some comment.

What should racing do to attract younger fans to the sport?

You mean the money spent of Jermaine Jenas hasn’t worked.

Funnily enough I was thinking that I hadn’t seen a piece in the Racing Post on attracting young people into the sport. Then lo and behold one appears.

https://www.racingpost.com/news/britain/what-should-racing-do-to-attract-younger-fans-to-the-sport-three-young-racing-post-reporters-have-their-say-ahngk6a5O2pm/

To the Racing Post’s credit, they have canvassed the views of some of their young staff reporters on this occasion. And I have to say there are some sensible suggestions contained.

Let’s go back five years and another Racing Post article.

Let’s go back five years and another Racing Post article.

‘ Young Person's Game: millenials to fore in driving down age of racing crowds.'

Of course, the article didn’t deliver the headline.

Evidently, a marketing company had carried out a survey for Great British Racing (GBR) and the Racecourse Association. They do love their survey’s at GBR.   Anyway, the survey revealed that 44% of racegoers were born between 1980 and 2000.

However, the results were taken from advance ticket purchases, which is generally how the work party groups obtain their tickets for tracks such as Chester, York, along with the Cheltenham and Aintree festivals.

Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to tell you that these party groups are almost all out for a day of drinking and partying. That was backed up when you delved deeper into the survey and discovered that for 66% of those asked the ‘social aspect' was the main reason they went racing.

The good news interpretation continued at end of the article. GBR chief executive Rod Street said: “forty per cent of racing fans are female, twice the sports average.”.

That’s a marketeers dream, and good news, Indeed long may it continue. But when you think about it more deeply you realise that’s 40% of racing’s new audience aren’t likely to become regular punters on the sport.

There lies the horse racing’s inherent problem. They sell it as one big boozing/partying festival with no attempt to get these young people engaged in the sport and of course betting on it. 

There’s nothing wrong with the social aspect it’s part of a day at the races. However, new/ young racegoers are only good for the long term health of the sport if they become regular punters on it.

Sandown Preview

Heavy rain on Tuesday night meant that the going at Sandown was changed to good to soft. However, the forecast is for mainly dry weather over the next few days with some hot weather on Friday. If that forecast proves to be correct, then we can expect the soft to quickly come out of that going description.

3:05 – Coral Marathon (Listed Race) – 2m

Yibir looked laboured when only 6^th of 12 in the Ascot Gold Cup and hasn’t been at his best on two starts this season. Yard is back to form now 11-30 in the past 14 days though. Although he probably didn’t stay 2m 4f last time this 2m threatens to suit.

Ocean Wind is the most interesting of the six runners. He returns from a mammoth 771 day break. An improving stayer in 2020 he also ran Stradivarius to length in the 2021 Sagaro Stakes. There must be a question as how much of his old ability remains, but the 7-year-old gets the first time blinkers today and if he’s ready to roll he could upset likely favourite Yibir.

Rest of the Sandown card

2:30 – Born To Rock an impressive winner on racecourse debut at Yarmouth was forced to miss her intended engagement at Royal Ascot and is likely to be a warm order in the Listed Dragon Stakes.  

4:15 – An easy surface will suit Poker Face in the Listed Gala Stakes. He was a solid 2 ½ length 4^th of 6 to Point Lonsdale in a Group 2 at Chester (soft) two starts back. However, he couldn’t get involved in Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot last time on quicker ground.

The quirky Saga isn’t the most trustworthy, but this could be a good opportunity for the 4-year-old to get his head in front for the first time since his September 2021.

Certain Lad hasn’t won since taking a Group 3 at York in August 2020. That said he’s only had nine starts since and wasn’t disgraced when a 4 ¾ length 3^rd of 10 to Anmaat in a Group 3 at Haydock last August. Well beaten in the Wolferton Stakes last time but he was badly hampered after 1f and that performance is best ignored. As long as the ground is no quicker than good can go close.

1:55 – The Class 2 handicap that opens the card sees only six line -up. There doesn’t look to be much pace with the only guaranteed front runner looking to be Can To Can. Thus, Clarendon House could be nicely positioned to take advantage back in handicap company. His yard is 0-18 in the past two weeks though which is a worry. He can clearly win this, but I wouldn’t want to take too short a price to find out.

Friday Selection:

Today’s selection is from Sandown. The form of the Robert Cowell stable puts me off Clarendon House in the first. Thus, I’m left with Certain Lad and Ocean Wind for today’s selection. Despite his long absence I’m going with the latter in the Coral Marathon.

Sandown

3:05 – Ocean Wind – 5/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes.

Cheers

John