The ground was given as good to firm at noon on Wednesday
ahead of today's eight-race card at Sandown Park.
This will be the fastest ground that Derdas (5.25) has
encountered and, as a son of Exceed And Excel, he should appreciate this
evening's terrain. He had the third over 5L back when runner up at Haydock on
his British debut – good to soft – and is taken to go one better even though
the winner did little for the form at Newbury next time. The William Haggas
trained newcomer Ajyaall is fitted with a hood for his debut which suggests he
is a bit keen at home, but a market move would be worth noting.
Agent Basterfield makes a belated seasonal reappearance for
Andrew Balding and would have every chance if getting a soft lead in the 10f
handicap. The vote, however, goes to George Boughey's Songkran (7.30) who has
won his last three starts and is taken to defy a career high mark. The
selection is 17lbs higher than when scoring at York earlier in the month, but
he has subsequently scored at Bath and Chepstow and I thought he still had a
bit up his sleeve when scoring in south Wales last time. Note David Probert who
has ridden Songkran in his last two victories takes the mount on Agent
Basterfield with Kieran Shoemark – who was in the plate at York – taking over
on the Boughey runner.
Rock Of Fame (8.00) is 6lbs higher than when runner up at Bath
last time when it is possible that Jack Mitchell used too much petrol up from
his wide draw on his filly. The winner – Magic Shuffle – has subsequently run a
very good race – behind Songkran – at Chepstow and the selection is certainly
bred to be better than her current mark. Andrea Atzeni takes over in the saddle
for the first time this season.
Get Back Get Back (2.40) was a bit too keen on his
reappearance at Uttoxeter last week and failed to jump with any fluency, but he
still ran an excellent race in third having, arguably, made his bid for glory
too far out. The hope is that he is less fresh this afternoon back at the Staffordshire
track and his jumping improves. If that is the case, he will be difficult to
beat in this company.
Mercian Prince (3.10) made all in a novice hurdle at Bangor
earlier in the month and the hope is that he can follow up reverting to fences
for Amy Murphy. That was his first start since a wind operation and the
handicapper has certainly given the selection a chance given he is 10lbs below
his last winning mark over the larger obstacles.
Monsieur Gibraltar has his optimum conditions and this
top-class hunter chaser has returned to Paul Nicholls. He represents a big
danger, but he may not be up to giving 5lbs to the selection.
The feature race at Pontefract is the listed Pomfret Stakes
over a mile and Royal Hunt Cup winner Dark Vision (3.20) will appreciate this
stiff mile having ran well in all three starts this season. James Doyle is 0-3
on the fur-year-old and he will not be able to allow Wadilsafa too much rope.
The latter ran a very good race himself on his reappearance and jockey Jim
Crowley is likely to try and set his own fractions on the lead. The hope is
that Doyle is awake to that possible scenario.
I am looking forward to seeing Mark Of Gold (5.00) step up
in trip on his handicap debut for Richard Hannon. The son of Golden Horn stayed
on well from the rear at Windsor over a mile last time and he is bred to come
into his own over 10f+. King's Castle failed to get home at Ripon over 12f last
time and this drop in trip will suit but the vote goes to the handicap debutant
who is bred to be better than his current mark.
I think there is more to come from Purdey's Gift on turf and
he was forced to cover plenty of ground when fading close home at York on his
reappearance. He must go close from his good draw, but preference is for the
Sir Michael Stoute runner French Asset (5.35) who is blinkered for the first
time this afternoon. The selection looked sure to win at Windsor but was picked
off close home and it will be interesting to see if he is ridden less
prominently in his headgear.
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