Some excellent racing in Britain and Ireland to get our teeth into today and we start at Sandown Park with a fascinating listed race which sees the return of one-time Derby favorite Elm Park (3.20) having been off the track since finishing down the field in the Epsom classic on fast ground back in June.
There is significant rain due to hit the Esher track today and that will surely suit last year's Group 1 Racing Post Trophy winner who escapes a penalty for that success due to the race conditions. He has an excellent draw for one who is likely to race prominently given this stiff extended mile is still likely to be on the sharp side. The selection holds engagements in both the QEII (1m) and Champion Stakes (1m 2f) next month and this looks an excellent opportunity.
There is an excellent juvenile Conditions race half an hour earlier with five of the six runners' previous winners. The exception is the newcomer Rehearse (2.50) and it is possible that this stoutly-bred debutant might be best served if the rain arrives. The colt holds an entry in next year's Derby and cost connections 170,000 Euros as a yearling; Cymric sets a decent standard but this American bred colt might not be best served if the rain arrives and is overlooked.
Edward Greatrex is excellent value for his 5lbs claim and St Saviour is much respected in the 10f handicap (again for Andrew Balding) but I think there is more to come from Bermondsey (4.30) and hope this lightly-raced son of Galileo can cope with the underfoot conditions for Luca Cumani and Kevin Stott who takes off 3lbs.
The ground looks sure to also ease at Yarmouth who have an excellent renewal of the listed John Musker Fillies' Stakes. The classic generation have won eight of the last ten renewals of the race and Speedy Boarding and Suffused (3.00) have excellent chances but the former carries a 4lbs penalty for a win in this grade and the latter gets the vote for Roger Charlton.
The selection looked a non-stayer over 12f at York in the Galtres Stakes last time and landed her maiden on good to soft ground at Newmarket on debut under Willie Twiston-Davies who has a 100% record (3 from 3) on the filly. Of the older horses the form of Talmada's second to Covert Love at Newcastle on Plate Day is top class but the nagging doubt would be the ground if the rain arrives for this daughter of Cape Cross.
In the opener Massaat (1.55) travelled like a good horse when finishing runner up on debut and the Barry Hills-trained colt can go one better although his eight-week absence from the track since his Sandown debut is a slight concern. There are a number of well-bred newcomers in opposition but the selection sets a very good standard and normal improvement will, surely, make him hard to beat.
Critical Risk (3.30) looked to be crying out for a step up in trip when runner up over a mile at Windsor on his first start for the Cumani yard (won his last couple for Brian Meehan). He has been raised 4lbs for that effort but Adam Kirby will have got to know him last time and he can go one better. Sgt Reckless switches between the winter and flat games and was last seen winning a Carlisle Chase at 1/8 back in the spring! Mick Channon is likely to revert to jumps with the 8-y-o later in the year but he could be fairly treated off his current mark which he achieved when running away with his sole start on the level on Lingfield's polytrack.
There is not much of Jewellery (5.10) but the booking of Paul John, who has been in the saddle for her last three wins, suggests connections expect a decent run from the mare who is a nimble jumper of a fence on decent ground. The ground is currently on the fast side of good at Kelso and I hope the rain stays away from the Borders track.
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