Sandown Friday

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gus

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This is a terrific card.

As mentioned elsewhere, Von Blucher runs in the Esher Cup. Regarded by Timeform as very leniently weighted, he makes some appeal at the 3/1 quoted by Bet365.

Western Hymn runs in the Gordon Richards Stakes, a race he won last year. He's a shade of odds-on which reflects his obvious chance but Top Notch Tonto might be worth an interest at a longer price, having shown last year that he gets this 10f trip.

Derby second favourite, Midterm, reappears in the Classic Trial. He was due to run at Newbury last Friday but it was abandoned. His Derby price is all about his potential because the bare form of his maiden win is nothing special. Ventura Storm looks more solid to me. He won the Feilden last week quite well and I rate the second to him there highly.

Bizarrely, Aidan O'Brien entered five at the five-day stage at a total cost of £3250 then a day later was saying none would run and none are running.

The Sandown Mile has attracted an excellent field. Toormore is penalised and Belardo will go off favourite. Dutch Connection's form at Royal Ascot and in France last year looks very solid indeed but the ground may be against him Friday and it's his seasonal reappearance as well.

The 10f maiden for fillies has divided but neither division features the Haggas filly mentioned elsewhere by Slim. One that does run is Southern Stars, a big eyecatcher on her debut last year.

The card is rounded off by the 10f handicap won in runaway style last season by Jack Hobbs.

Really looking forward to it.
 
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Not sure what the return of the tongue strap is about, or whether the ground will definitely be fast enough. But I'd rather back a loser than miss him at 3/1 off this mark!
 
Desert Orchid said:
I think it's a card to avoid like the plague, so I will :)
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I should maybe have said that I arrived at that conclusion after looking at the two decent older races. Whichever among the better ones is fittest will probably win but which that will be is very much up in the air. I very much wanted to see Estidhkaar run in the mile but the fact he was entered suggests he is back, fit and well. He could end up the miler of the year, at least among the older brigade.

The 3yo handicaps will be interesting for the future but not for today.

And wtf is going on with the ground?
 
Betting on the turf/flat at this time of the season is madness........so we should all feel right at home having a punt at Sandown today

SMS in form Ryan Moore in form Midterm unbeaten son of Galileo out of Henry's Midday what a cracking evens bet that was today (now odds on)
 
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You'd have to like Midterm's win yesterday. Settled and travelled and it stands up both in form and (very solid) time terms.

He is clearly a highly credible Derby contender. The problem is that he was priced before yesterday's run as if he'd already impressively won a trial and when he went and did it the price was cut further. 6/1 might look good in a few weeks, especially if he wins his next race at either Chester or York, but I can't get excited about it.
 
gus said:
You'd have to like Midterm's win yesterday. Settled and travelled and it stands up both in form and (very solid) time terms.

He is clearly a highly credible Derby contender. The problem is that he was priced before yesterday's run as if he'd already impressively won a trial and when he went and did it the price was cut further. 6/1 might look good in a few weeks, especially if he wins his next race at either Chester or York, but I can't get excited about it.
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It just shows how ridiculous US Army Ranger's price is though, doesn't it?

Midterm may have a bit to prove with regards the Derby, but the fact US Army Ranger - who has won a 10f maiden up the Curragh (in a bog, albeit I was taken with the display) - is still a general 4's shot for the race seems incredible to me.
 
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