Sandown’s mixed two-day meeting gets going on Friday and features the Gordon Richards Stakes.
Unfortunately, just the three runners have been attracted but they’re all quality and the event should be watched. I thought Mostahdaf was a proper Group 1 horse and he can prove that this year – he’s the market leader.
On Saturday we stick with the Flat despite Sandown’s jumps finale, on a weekend during which yet more Classic contenders should make themselves known.
Friday 22nd April 2022
1.50 Sandown (Esher Cup Handicap) – BLUE TRAIL
A competitive race, as the Esher Cup usually is, but we simply cannot ignore the form of Blue Trail at the head of the market, nor that of his red-hot trainer Charlie Appleby.
Having only made his debut on the all-weather in January the Teofilo offspring has already improved plenty. Second on his first start, Blue Trail has gone on to win easily at Southwell before then holding off Harrow and Find in a valuable conditions race at Kempton.
I feel as though he’s itching for the turf now, he’s drawn well, was very solid before his latest run and will see it out up the Sandown straight much better than many in this line-up under top jock William Buick.
Find reopposes and also holds solid place chances, while Wanees makes his seasonal debut as a horse who has won on both fast and deep ground as a novice.
3.00 Sandown (bet365 Mile – Group 2) – MUTASAABEQ
After he won ever so easily during the Craven meeting last year, I genuinely fancied Mutasaabeq against the big guns in the 2000 Guineas.
He was a solid if unspectacular seventh in the Classic before failing on the heavy ground in the Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot.
He won easily in a small race at Haydock next time and was impressive on unsuitable ground at Thirsk on his seasonal debut two weeks ago and now he can prove he’s ready for the big time. If he puts it all together, he can prove he is top class.
The likely short-priced favourite is the Cheveley Park, Fred Darling, Coronation Stakes and Sussex Stakes heroine Alcohol Free and she deserves that place in the market.
In these conditions and on her seasonal bow, I do feel that she may be some way short of her best and at the odds I’m willing to take a chance on that.
Sunray Major was a big improver and may belatedly get to the top, while Lights On is surely better on soft and Lincoln winner Johan may just be outclassed.
3.35 Sandown (Classic Trial – Group 3) – GOLDSPUR
Last year’s renewal of the Classic Trial was a belter, at least with the benefit of hindsight anyway.
Godolphin, Charlie Appleby and Will Buick’s Goldspur is being quoted at short prices for this race but his odds reflect his rock-solid form as well as that of the team overall and he looks a real Derby contender.
Extremely impressive on debut here last September, Goldspur went on to upset teammate Hafit in the Group 3 Zetland Stakes by utilising his excellent stamina.
Thrown into a Group 1 in France exactly two weeks later, there was always a danger that the race would come too soon and indeed he was very narrowly beaten at Saint-Cloud.
Based on what was expected of him in France as the 7/5 favourite and with just normal progression, he should reach a level here that makes him too good for the opposition and we know he’ll see this out well.
Franz Strauss won at Newcastle on debut in a race that should be upgraded, certainly his form with impressive Feilden Stakes winner Eydon makes him look overpriced, while fellow Gosden horse Frantastic is an unknown quantity.
Aidan O’Brien sends impressive maiden winner River Thames over, but even based on expected progression and the subsequent form of the runner-up from his first win he may just be one rung below Goldspur on the ladder at this stage.
Saturday 23rd April 2022
2.40 Haydock (Novice Stakes) – WONDERFUL TIMES
John and Thady Gosden send debutant Wonderful Times up to Haydock for this novice race and she is the only unraced filly in the line-up.
Normandie Stud’s representative is a beautifully bred Golden Horn/Galileo cross and there should be plenty expected of her now she’s ready to rock.
Looking at the opposition and taking into account Love Interest’s 7lb penalty, Wonderful Times will probably need to run to a mark somewhere in the early 80’s to win which surely the team would expect given her profile.
3.45 Haydock (Handicap) – KINGMANIA
Newmarket trainer Chris Wall sends Kingmania here and the 4yo Kingman filly hasn’t run for 287 days.
She is way ahead however on my private adjusted speed ratings, so if speed is important today then she looks good and can afford to be a few pounds below her best. Jack Mitchell is riding well, too.
3.51 Leicester (Novice Stakes) – RULING DYNASTY
This could turn out to be a high-quality novice race and should be watched closely.
If I’m right about the chance of Wonderful Times, then it speaks volumes that Frankie Dettori comes to Leicester instead of going to Haydock to ride her.
His mount here, one of two on the card for owner Bjorn Neilsen, is Magisterial and the Derby entrant has some experience having raced twice as a juvenile.
Though he could improve markedly, given his 7lb penalty and the form of those he’s beaten it may just take a performance somewhere in the early 90’s to beat him and that is something I feel Godolphin’s Ruling Dynasty can do on debut.
We know Charlie Appleby can get them ready first time. In fact, most of his juveniles run consistently to marks in the mid-80’s on their first run so as a three-year-old in late April and given the stonking form of the stable, the required level looks to be within Ruling Dynasty’s grasp.
He is in the Derby too of course and could add to the team’s growing Classic contender list, while William Buick is on hand to take the ride.
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