The first day of Sandown’s two-day Eclipse meeting kicks-off with an excellent six-race card this afternoon and Masamah (2.20) fancied to capitalise on his lowest mark for over five years in the opening 5f handicap. Marco Botti’s speedster has tumbled down the weights since finishing second in a pair of competitive handicaps last summer however dropping down In grade should remain competitive from a 2lb lower mark. Ryan Moore is an eye-catching jockey booking and the 9-y-o is taken to give weight and a beating to his nine rivals accordingly.
Richard Hannon boasts a terrific record in the Listed Dragon Stakes over the minimum trip and whilst his well-bred filly Ejaazah is respected under Paul Hanagan, preference is for Clive Cox’s Soapy Aitken (2.50) with Ryan Moore fancied to land an opening card double. The selection was well-backed for the Windsor Castle Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot and was far from disgraced finishing fourth under Adam Kirby. The colt pulled clear with his maim market rivals and on that from should be too good for Mark Johnston’s consistent Riflescope and Eddie Lynam’s Irish raider Promised Money.
Moore will be aboard likely favourite Provenance for the Gala Stakes over a mile and a quarter after her excellent fifth last time out at Royal Ascot however Sir Michael Stoute’s bred in the purple filly is instead sidestepped for one of John Gosden’s with Bright Approach (3.55) given the nod under William Buick. The filly made a winning debut last term in a warm Newbury maiden and followed-up with an excellent third in the Cheshire Oaks at Chester‘s May meeting. She never went a yard in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot however is much better than that performance and can return to winning ways down in grade.
Stoute’s unbeaten Suddyan will be popular for the handicap over an extended mile and a quarter however, at his forecast price of around the 6/4 mark, the well-bred Holy Roman Emperor colt is swerved with I’m Fraam Govan (4.30) for George Baker and James Doyle. The selection has looked in need of the run in both outings this term, finishing down the field in competitive handicaps over a mile and a half at Ascot under Pat Cosgrave and over course and distance last month under Doyle. The Sir Alex Ferguson-owned gelding has been dropped 5lb for those efforts and should thrive on his preferred sounder surface.
At Beverley, Bondi Beach Babe (8.45) can continue his excellent form this term in the sprint handicap under useful 7lb conditional Mitch Godwin. Since returning on the all-weather at Southwell in April the selection has yet to finish out of the frame on all five of five subsequent starts on turf, including scoring cosily over course and distance last time out ten days ago. He is unpenalised due to winning an apprentice handicap and should remain competitive from an unrevised mark.
Simon Crisford’s Gang Warfare (4.45) landed a touch for the yard last time out at Beverley and swaps east for south Yorkshire bidding to follow-up under a 6lb penalty in the mile and a half handicap at Doncaster. The selection travelled well before showing a smart turn of foot and with 7lb Apprentice Edward Greatrex offsetting the penalty, he is a confident selection to claim a second career success.
Lady Cecil’s Distain is respected making his handicap debut from an opening mark of 80 however Luca Cumani‘s well-bred filly Frenzified (4.10) should relish the step to a mile and a half and can make it second time lucky handicapping under 3lb apprentice Cam Hardie. The selection ran out an impressive winner two starts back at Salisbury over a mile and a quarter but her pedigree suggests she should be even better over a trip, and is in the right hands to progress further.
There’s excellent action this evening from Haydock, where Roger Varian’s Stocking (7.00) can follow-up her impressive success last week on the all-weather under Graham Lee. The selection isn’t without her quirks, playing up in the prelims before scoring last time out at Wolverhampton, however should be very hard to beat under a 6lb penalty.
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