The main focus tomorrow will be at Sandown where Sea the Stars will be looking to add another Group 1 to his tally. Having won the 2,000 Guineas over a mile and the Derby over 12 furlongs tomorrow’s trip of a mile and a quarter looks to be ideal for him. He had Rip Van Winkle behind him at both Newmarket and Epsom while his other main rival Conduit will probably find this trip just a little too sharp for him. Sea the Stars does not have any obvious chinks in his armour and will take all the beating.
There have of course been many famous winners of the Eclipse. In 1984 the race went to Sadler’s Wells (pictured below) who went on to gain even greater fame and glory at stud.
Triple Aspect has won 4 of his 5 career starts with the sole defeat coming against subsequent winner Border Patrol. He will do for me in the Sandown 2.05. An added bonus is the current good form of his trainer William Haggas. The other runner from my list to follow in this race is Captain Gerrard who is yet to find his form this season.
The pair that head the weights in the 2.40 Smokey Oakey and Blythe Knight are both former winners of the Lincoln Handicap while Alfathaa, 5th in the Royal Hunt Cup and We’ll Come the recent Salisbury winner are others to consider. The stats favour older horses such as this quartet as only one 3 year old has won this handicap in the last 10 years. For my selections I am going to live dangerously and ignore the trend as my two against the field are both 3 year olds, Mirrored and Roman Republic. Mirrored, twice a winner this season ran a cracker when 3rd in the Britannia Stakes while Roman Republic, despite a a modest effort in the Britannia had a progressive profile prior to that run and his trainer is in good form.
The other runners from my list to follow in the later races at Sandown, Say No Now (3.45) and Wells Lyrical, who was runner up in the Northumberland Plate last week, (4.20).
Finally at Sandown I narrowed the 5.30 down to a short list of 3 consisting of Raaeidd, Tiger Flash and Nbhan. I have been impressed with Raaeidd who seems to have a nice balance between speed and stamina and I will just give him the edge over Nbhan.
Haydock next where the feature is the Lancashire Oaks at 2.55. Flame of Gibraltar and High Heeled will be the market leaders I would imagine so in search of a bit of value I will look elsewhere. Sir Michael Stoute won this race 3 years ago with Allegretto and saddles July Jasmine this time. Very lightly raced she was runner up to Midday in the Lingfield Oaks Trial and comes here with an each way chance.
Earlier, Brunstonn represents my list to follow in the 2.20. A winner twice this season it may well be that the handicapper now has his measure. He is a big strong type though and it is possible that tomorrow’s longer trip might bring out some further improvement. He is not a forlorn hope.
The Old Newton Cup at 3.30 has been won by a 4 year old in 7 of the last 10 renewals. I have gone for a couple in that age group with Falcativ and Hevelius. Falcativ looked a progressive sort until a poor run last time and he can pick up the thread here for a trainer with a good record in the race. Hevelius is unexposed after only 3 runs and does not look on a bad mark.
My list horse in the 4.35 is Dark Mischief who won off a mark of 86 at Newmarket at the start of the season. He has been beaten on his last two starts and is now racing off a mark of 92 so I am not too confident about his chance.
One day last season a friend of mine gave me an absolute certainty in a race at Kempton but sadly the horse went the way of so many ACs in the past. That horse was Tyrannosaurus Rex and although he failed to land a monster gamble that day he has struck form this year with 4 wins. The first two came at Wolverhampton and subsequently at Nottingham and Chester on fast ground. He runs in the 5.10 and although on an all time high mark he is progressive and in with a shout. Look out for a couple of veterans in this race trained by Milton Bradley, The Tatling aged 12 (pictured below) and the 9 year old course and distance winner Cape Royal.
Block Party represents my list to follow in the 5.45. A beaten favourite on his handicap bow he was not disgraced in 4th that day and I fancy him to at least make the frame.
Next stop is Leicester and the fillies handicap at 3.35. Visite Royale is respected but I like the chances of the lightly raced Mrs Beeton who is a half sister to Stotsfold, also trained by Walter Swinburn.
Danehillsundance is on an 18 run losing sequence with the last success coming off a mark of 89. Now racing off a rating of 71 he is obviously well treated on his best form. If he could recapture that form in the 8.20 at Nottingham he would be a bit of a snip at a big price. Rather a large if though I suppose!
Today’s pictures are by kind permission of the artist Lisa Miller.
Good luck
ahorse 