All eyes will be on tomorrow’s jumps season finale, but first, Sandown Classic Trial Day will be on our screens on Friday afternoon.
It looks like a tricky day at the Esher track, but hopefully these horses can make the pockets feel heavier at the end of the day.
Sandown Classic Trial Day
3:00 Sandown – Alcantor @ 9/2 with Betfred – 1pt Win
The Group 2 bet365 Mile is a competitive contest, but Alcantor has a number of things going for him, and he is a nice price at 5/1.
Firstly, like Dancing Gemini, he has race fitness on his side, and there was only a quarter of a length that separated the pair in last year’s French 2000 Guineas.
Alcantor did plenty of early work in the French 2000 Guineas to negate his wide draw, so the performance can be upgraded.
This isn’t the first time Andre Fabre has sent this son of New Bay over to the UK; he came over for the Craven last season, but his sixth of eight was poor.
He was sent off 2/1 that day on his first run of the season, which is notable, yet he does have form to reverse with Haatem based on this form line.
I wonder if Richard Hannon’s Irish 2000 Guineas runner-up will need the run after 307 days, and his best form came on good or better last season.
Having beaten Marhaba Ya Sanafi at Saint-Cloud last month, he should come on for that effort, and with the worries about Haatem, he gets the vote.
4:45 Sandown – Gunship @ 11/4 with William Hill – 1pt Win
Gunship has the unexposed profile, the big-race entries, and the pedigree to suggest he can win the finale at Sandown off 82.
He’s had just two runs, winning one and finishing second at Southwell last month to Michael Scofield. The winner from his last race went on to finish fourth in the Listed Burradon Stakes at Newcastle.
He therefore has race fitness on a few of his rivals, and he is also a Sea The Stars half-brother to the Group 1 winner Phoenix Of Spain.
Yes, he may not be a Derby winner in waiting, but he holds an entry for the 1m4f Epsom Classic as well as the Irish equivalent, suggesting that he could be a lot better than his opening mark of 82.
He may fall into the ‘hype horse’ category, but I’m happy to chance him.
