Sandown stage a good card this afternoon beginning with a couple of informative juvenile maidens. The opener is over the minimum trip and sees the debut of Ivawood sold as a yearling for 220,000 guineas and sure to know his job. He faces a difficult task, however, given the filly Kiematic (2.10) has already shown a useful level of form and suggested that this return to 5f would suit when caught close home at Newmarket over six in the colours of Her Majesty the Queen. Richard Hughes was in the plate at HQ but he takes over on Ivawood and Oisin Murphy’s 3lb claim means the colts’ must give the selection 8lbs.
Those with experience look beatable in the 7f maiden and this could rest between Moonadee and Tupi (2.40) with preference for the latter; the selection cost six-figures and the Hannon stable saddled the winner of the corresponding race 12-months ago although last year’s winner did have previous racecourse experience.
Token Of Love (3.15) is 3lb higher than when runner up at Newbury over 7f but she is bred to appreciate today’s additional furlong and is entitled to improve gain today on only her third career start. The fact that she still holds an entry in the Coronation Stakes at the Royal meeting next Friday suggests connections think she is potentially a bit better than an 80-rated filly. Ryan Moore is at York so Richard Hughes takes over on the daughter of Cape Cross.
Sea Here (4.20) is bred in the pink and has a similar profile to Australia given his sire (Sea The Stars) is a Derby winner and his dam (Look Here) an Oaks winner. He has been plying his trade at a mile in three very ordinary starts to date but the hope is this step up in trip for his handicap debut will see him in a better light.
Billy Blue has been gelded since his last start and this Kempton maiden winner is another potential blot on the handicap making a belated seasonal reappearance. The Gosden horses continue to fire but his draw in ten is a concern and the unexposed filly Reesha might be a bigger threat for Roger Varian.
Tabreek and Conneticut (2.30) are two lightly-raced colts who could have plenty more to offer with slight preference for the latter in the 10f handicap at York. The selection won the same Newbury maiden last month that Remote did in 2013 from a poor draw and a mark of 84 looks fair for what will only be his third start.
Aintree stage their second Friday night meeting of the summer and Masterofdeception (5.50) is hard to oppose in the opener for Grand National winning trainer Dr Richard Newland returning to the scene of his greatest triumph. The selection was formerly trained by Jessica Harrington but put up a career best effort when winning at Ffos Las earlier in the month and a 7lb penalty might not prevent him following up. Frontier Vic deserves to get his head in front for Nigel-Twiston-Davies but he is becoming increasingly frustrating having been placed in his last five starts.
Green Bank (7.00) might not get a soft lead but I like the booking of Tom Scudamore for Charlie Longsdon’s 8-y-old who should love the drying ground in the feature race of the evening. Lexicon Lad, Rockiteer and Double Whammy will have their supporters but the selection is taken to improve past them in an excellent summer chase.
The Road Ahead (9.15) may have been let off lightly for a 6lb rise for scoring over C&D at the last meeting and she can give Peter Bowen, who does so well with his runners at Aintree, a winner in the last. The recommendation was a decent bumper horse and the stable remain in excellent form, having been out of sorts for much of the last winter.
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