This evening’s Sandown card will be run on ground described as soft – good to soft in places – on Thursday morning although a dry day is expected, and it is possible that conditions will improve again.
Ocean Wind (6.50) has finished runner up in his last three starts but he is taken to end that frustrating run in the Group 3 Henry II Stakes over two miles. The selection is flexible regarding underfoot conditions and did finish half a length in front of Nayef Road when behind Stradivarius at Ascot in the Sagaro Stakes last month. The Mark Johnstone runner is, arguably, better on a sound surface and a bigger danger may come from Rainbow Dreamer although Alan King’s 8-y-old is better on the all-weather. I really do think this is Ocean Wind’s race to lose. The selection is 10/11 with Boylesports.
Sangarius (7.25) had to sit and wait for a gap in the four-runner Ormonde Stakes at Chester on his reappearance, but he was well held by Armory inside the final furlong. He is taken to improve with the run under his belt and take a very moderate renewal of the Gp 2 Brigadier Gerard Stakes. Ryan Moore takes over in the saddle on the Stoute horse who won his sole previous start on soft ground. The selection is 11/10 with MansionBet.
Extra Elusive would be a huge danger on his best 3-y-old form, but he has been below par in two starts so far this term. The Roger Charlton stable are in better form now than they were when their 6-y-o finished third in the Gordon Richards Stakes last month, but Sangarius gets a confident vote.
I expect to see a big run from History Writer (8.00) in the following Whitsun Cup for David Menusier. The selection turned left coming out of the stalls in the Victoria Cup at Ascot last time and, in the circumstances, ran a very promising race over a trip shy of his best.
There is not much guaranteed pace in the race which is a concern although Gin Palace and Epic Endeavour have led in the past. William Buick needs to be aware of the possibility of a tactical affair and cannot afford to get too far back from his draw in stall one. He needs to win to have any chance of getting a run in the Hunt Cup next month. Believe it or not he was 11s with William Hill when they opened on the race but he is 5/2 with 10Bet at the time of posting.
The ground is given as good at Haydock where Olympic Theatre (2.15) can follow up his recent Windsor success under a 6lbs penalty. The selection – 13/8 with BetVictor – had the third 6L back at the Thameside track and he can give 11lbs – including jockey’s allowances – to market leader Red Glory who has been raised just 4lbs for this month’s Beverley victory.
At Worcester Blazing Saddles (2.05) can go one better than when second at Warwick last week. Jeremy Scott’s 6-y-old has been raised 5lbs for that effort but can race from his old mark today. Indeed, one could argue he is 5lbs lower this afternoon given leading conditional Luca Morgan takes off a valuable 5lbs. The selection is 2s with William Hill.
