Sandown Park Bet365 Friday Meeting 25/04/14

Hello once again one & all, welcome to my blog this time focusing on Sandown's terrific Flat card tomorrow. The 2 day meeting now is much more balanced with the all flat meeting now on Friday & the grand finale of the Jumps season now on Saturday. Some purists may have wanted the mixed meeting to stay but having been a few times on the Saturday I always found it hard to focus seeing jumpers one minute & lightly built flat animals the next.

The opening race is The Esher Cup a 3 year old handicap which is not the race it was but at least this year has attracted a few potential useful types in the 8 runner field.

Weights are headed by recent last gasp Nottingham scorer Sacred Act who is a half brother to English Ballet (3rd Fillies Mile Group 1 2004). He was extremely green on debut & only got going late on looking to need the full distance of 1 mile so I would have been expecting a step up in trip rather than staying at the mile, however he is respected from a stable that have won this race twice in the last 5 years.

First Flight represents Godolphin he was last seen when looking ill at ease of the fast ground at York's Ebor meeting, previous to that he had won what is now looking a poor Newbury sprint maiden. Reports are he has been doing ok on the gallops but may well need this.

End Of Line is a once raced winner from the Andrew Balding stable, he won impressively by 6 lengths at Doncaster last October in a race which has not worked out & looks a little high in the handicap for my liking.

Almargo rattled a quick early season AWT hat trick before running as if exposed at Musselburgh last Friday, of course you can't ever discount these Johnston animals but this does look too tough for him.

Art Official has a couple of wins to his name but ended last season with two disappointing runs & looks harshly handicapped judged on those runs, I also wonder if he will stay the extended mile.

I am a fan of What About Carlo as regulars readers will know, he is one of my 8 Dark horses to follow, he looks incredibly well handicapped tomorrow & as long as the ground is not too soft (which judging by the weather it should dry out too good overnight) he has an outstanding chance of opening his 3yo campaign with a win.

Cricklewood Green is unbeaten in two starts as a 2 year old, he holds no fancy entries & could well have been let in lightly but the form overall looks quite weak.

Street Force is a thoroughly exposed Clive Brittain runner & will be doing well to be getting involved.

Decent opener in which I expect What About Carlo to win. (WON 16/1)

Next up is the first of the group races, The Gordon Richards Stakes Group 3 won last year by the classy Al Kazeem. The focus for many in this year's race is the much vaunted Telescope who has not yet fulfilled his early promise, his best piece of form to date is a decisive win in last year's Great Voltigeur. However now he is a 4 year old this could well his time to shine, we all know how well his astute trainer does with older horses & he has a cracking record in this race having won it 7 times since 1978, 3 times in the last 5 years.

Opposition is led by Godolphin's ex french trained Sky Hunter who was 3rd in last season's French Derby, his only run since was an easy victory in a 3 runner Listed race in the provinces which told us little about him. He is unexposed & in that 3rd in the French Derby he brings arguably the best piece of form into this race.

Frankel's full brother Noble Mission steps back in trip after narrowly going down to the filly Cubanita in the John Porter at Newbury 2 weeks back, he has chances but is not as classy as the aforementioned duo.

Robin Hoods Bay is respected due to being in the form of his life at present after his win in The Winter Derby & an excellent 3rd on finals day last week.

Empire Storm is outclassed at this level, Contributor however could well be underestimated, he looked in good form when winning at Kempton a month ago & brings useful form from last season to the table.

Intriguing race in which I don't see a bet.

The Bet365 Mile (formerly Sandown Mile) has seen some fantastic winners over the years such as the fabulous Pebbles, Soviet Star, Markofdistinction & In The Groove genuine Group 1 animals but in recent years it has tended to attract minor pattern performers, it has also become the Richard Hannon benefit as since 2004 he has won 7 renewals.

This year the Hannon family are represented by Montridge a horse who has been living in the shadows of more illustrious stablemates for all of his career, he is an excellent horse on his day who acts on any ground. This I guess is dual Champion jockey Richard Hughes big hope for his comeback day so I am confident he will be primed & up for this.

The Hannon stable are also represented by last year's winner Trumpet Major who is useful but has long been exposed against better opposition, he won a very weak renewal last season so I could consider him tomorrow.

Tullius ran a mighty race in the Lincoln & is a former Group 3 winner at his best but even his best will not suffice here.

Top Notch Tonto has earned his right to dine in pattern company after a fabulous season last time around culminating in quite simply a staggering run in the QEII in which if connections had truly realised what they had on their hands he might well have troubled the incredibly overrated winner. It will be interesting to see how fit he is for this first assignment as I can see his first big target being The Lockinge at Newbury so he may well strip fitter for this.

Garswood didn't get the mile last season but is certainly worth another go as this powerful animal should have strengthened up enough over the winter to cope, he has a great turn of foot & could well be very dangerous in this.

Old Penitent is a former winner of this race but is getting on now for all he is still useful this is a really decent renewal so the younger legs should have him cooked.

Fire Ship had an excellent season last year winning in Listed company at Pontefract before capturing the Group 3 Prix Quincey all on ground with soft in the title & with the drying day we have had today I cannot see him being good enough.

Really decent renewal of this race in which Montridge will be a short price & should win but I may well chance Garswood at a price.

The second Derby Trial of this week is up next but a slighter more higher profile one than its Epsom counterpart, The Bet365 Classic Trial features the highly touted & much vaunted recent Newbury winner Western Hymn who has got the clock watchers buzzing, his 2 wins have been smooth & he races like a proper pattern performer. I am not sure tomorrow will tell us much as he looks head & shoulders above the opposition.

Red Galileo looks the one if Western Hymn is to be beat, he is very highly regarded by Ed Dunlop so it was surprising that he took until his 4th start in a Kempton October maiden to break his duck, his 3 previous tries had all been 2nds to Pinzolo (well regarded Derby hope for Godolphin) (in behind was What About Carlo)), Golden Town (who disappointed in The Greenham) & Almuheet (who finished last of 6 next time up), the only horse he has beaten of any note is Snow Sky (both making debuts) who has been thrashed already this season by Western Hymn. On a more positive note he is bred to be a 3 year old & should really benefit from the step up in trip. 

Act Of Charity will need one to be involved, Clive Brittain sends Automated into a Group 3 after 3 defeats in maidens, nuts you would think but Clive has been known with horses like this & his last run was promising with the step back up in trip looking likely to really suit this son of Authorized especially now as a stronger 3 year old.
Master Carpenter should stay fine on breeding & comes into the race on his excellent 3rd in The Greenham, that I feel was a flash in the pan as several other rivals ran below par & in any case he should not be good enough to trouble the likes of Western Hymn.

Impulsive Moment takes a big step up from a AWT novice event last December, he is related to useful juvenile hurdler Ballyglasheen which tells you all you need to know for this race.

Sir Jack Layden is quite a tall sort who looked unfurnished last year, he brings pretty useful form to the table & was last seen finishing 8th in The UAE Derby. He should appreciate the step up in trip & could well sneak a place.

Truth Or Dare was swept aside by True Story & Obliterator at Newmarket last week so his run will be a good guide as to how good that form is, I can't see him troubling Western Hymn but a place is not out of the question.

A race to watch rather than bet to see if the impression that Western Hymn has given on his 2 starts is justified.

The 5f handicap looks well left alone so after that is the 1m2f fillies maiden which features some well bred animals;

Allegria (Dalakhani X Drifting) staying pedigree with nothing a note to recommend her.

Dino Mite (Doctor Dino X Compose) Half sister to the crack mare Cockney Sparrow.

Fire Spinner (Galileo X Mubkera) half sister to Green Destiny (Strensall Stakes Group 3), made £157,500 at Tatts Book 1 Oct,2012.

Grace And Favour (Montjeu X Gryada) Full sister to Ascot Gold Cup winner Fame And Glory.

Kallisha (Whipper X Shallika) Nothing screams out on pedigree.

Millionaires Row (Dynaformer X Ladue) dam was a minor winner in US, nothing else in pedigree.

Nancy From Nairobi (Sixties Icon X Madame Hoi) very little to recommend on pedigree but she ran encouragingly on her debut 2 weeks ago.

Pendley Legacy (Leporello X Albavilla) half sister to Pure Excellence (Listed winner).
Perfect Light (Galileo X Beauty Bright) her Dam Won Renaissance Stakes Group 3 in 2006 & went onto to be 6th in The Prix De L'Abbaye Group 1 that year.
Petticoat Lane (High Chaparral X Barter) half sister to 2 minor winners.
Pink Diamond (Champs Elysees X Fairy Dance) half sister to 2 winners, very cheap purchase.
Strawberry Martini (Mount Nelson X Strawberry Lolly) half sister to Kolonel Kirkup.
Sweeping Up (Sea The Stars X Farfala) brings the best form into the race with a 2nd & a 3rd, last run behind Oaks hopeful Cambridge. Half sister to Under The Rainbow (pattern placed) & Starfala (pattern placed).
Telegraphy (Giant's Causeway X Cable) unplaced both starts so far & nothing to write home about in the pedigree. Dam was minor stakes placed in the US.
Time Signal (Champs Elysees X Sandglass) dam was a winner of a maiden & is a half sister to Passage Of Time (Group 1 winner), Father Time (Group 2 winner) & Timepiece (Group 1 winner)

Wahgah (Distorted Humour X Basaata) half-sister to Bashaar dual winner in USA including Grade 3 placed, ran 5th on debut when expected to win so may have been slightly disappointing. Should appreciate the step up.

What A Scorcher (Authorized  X Street Fire) half sister to 1 winner, 8th on debut in an average Newbury maiden.

The final race on Sandown's card tomorrow has attracted 11 runners with most interest centering around Taghrooda who won on her debut last season. She was out recently working at Newmarket on the Rowley mile when she impressed many judges. She starts of in a handicap giving weight to some decent rivals which will be tough on her first start, she is well entered up & is touted as an Oaks possible so will need to be winning this to go onto Epsom, off 89 she has been given every chance.
Gothic is one of my Dark horses & I am happy to see him out from what looks a very workable mark, he will love the step up in trip & I expect him to go close especially receiving weight from Taghrooda.

Hymenaios won well on his seasonal return appreciating the soft ground, the form has already started to work out well as the 3rd has since bolted up at Kempton, he has chances but may lack the class of Gothic & Taghrooda.
Elite Army represents Godolphin & has an easy Kempton maiden win to his name, I believe he is quite far down the Godolphin pecking order though so this will be tough.
Mannaro won on his only start at Yarmouth at the end of last season, he has a relatively high mark given the form of that race, he is one to watch for now.
Hooded is by the champion mare Yashmak who has yet to produce anything of real note so far, he won his maiden in November comfortably enough, his mark is indicative of the lack of competitiveness of the 2 races he has run in so far. Another who is best watched against some potentially decent rivals.
Windshear comes from what looks a good handicap at Newmarket last week when he finished 2nd to Cloudscape, he ran well & should remain competitive but the feeling is that he is vulnerable to a classy animal.

Farquhar won an average Nottingham backend maiden before finishing down the field in a Chantilly Listed race in November. His mark might be a few lbs to high is this grade.

Collaboration has won at Brighton & Wolverhampton so this represents a step up for him, Elysian Prince looks to have lots to do whilst I would not give up on Oasis Fantasy who is bred to get better with age & distance as he is a half brother to Palavicini (Group 3 winner) & Elusive Pimpernel (Dual Group 3 winner & Group 1 placed), he could easily be one for later in the season.

Excellent race to end proceedings in which Gothic must have a huge chance receiving weight from potentially a Group performer in Taghrooda.

@fttfracing