Sandown and Perth Friday Tips by Dave Stevos
Sandown and Perth Friday Tips and Preview
The Scottish National saved our bacon last weekend and ensured we finished with a modest profit. Hiromichi finished 4th in the first live race, a sign of things to come. Tyson Fury also finished 4th, while Sirwilliamwallace, who we were on for 5 places, finished 6th. Aunty Bridy ran no race but Tommy’s Oscar at least landed place money for us at 8/1. Rhythm Master never landed a blow in the Greenham, Malystic wasn’t good enough and Gin Palace disappointed. Thankfully, Cool Mix (adv 50/1) and The Ferry Master (22/1) both rewarded e/w support in the big one. Check out Dave Stevos’ Sandown and Perth Friday tips below.
1.50 Sandown – Esher Cup Handicap (Class 2)
First up on ITV4 on Friday is the 1 mile Esher Cup Handicap. A field of 10 will go to post and at a price, Buxted Too could go well for in form Ian Williams. This thrice raced son of Iffraaj will be making his turf and handicap debut today off a mark of 79. He has progressed nicely with each outing, culminating in a narrow maiden win at Chelmsford over 7f a couple of weeks ago. He needed every inch of the trip to get up that day. So, stepping back up to a mile should suit him.
Buxted Too previously ran twice over 8f at Kempton. The first time he stayed on late for 4th on his racecourse debut, 7L behind the winner. On his second run he was a bit keen early after pinging the gates. However, he still ran a blinder to finish 3rd, just 1L behind the winner Lord Protector. That horse came out and won a novice on his reappearance at Windsor and he is now rated 88.
The 5th home in that race was Third Realm, another horse that scored on his seasonal reappearance. It looks like pretty decent form and if Ian Williams’ charge can repeat that level of form on grass he shouldn’t be far away. His pedigree suggests he should be even better on turf and with 4 places on offer from Skybet, Buxted Too is the e/w pick at odds of 22/1.
Sandown and Perth Friday Tips: Buxted Too e/w @ 22/1 (4 places Skybet)
2.25 Sandown – Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3)
The first of three pattern races at Sandown on Friday is the G3 Gordon Richards Stakes. This is a 10f heat with seven runners and five of them are 4yos. However, I think one of the older horses is interesting. Extra Elusive is now a 6yo and Roger Charlton’s charge has the assistance of Holly Doyle in the plate. This fella is one of only two horses with a relatively recent run under his belt in this contest.
That run came 2 months ago on the dirt in Riyadh in the Saudi Cup. The son of Mastercraftsman didn’t handle the conditions and was well beaten that day. However, he should be much more at home on the nice ground at Sandown. He has a pretty decent record over today’s C&D. He finished 3rd behind Crystal Ocean and Knight To Behold in this race in 2019. Extra Elsuive then subsequently finshed 2nd in a Listed heat, just a head behind Elarqam.
Is there anything as good as those three horses in this contest? I’m not too sure. Hukum is the highest rated but he lacks a recent run and he may find this distance too short. Waldkonig steps up from handicap company and he has 2L to find with Highest Ground on their meeting at Haydock last June. Thunderous beat Highest Ground by a neck in a G2 at York on his final run last term. However, he hasn’t seen the track since. This is Extra Elusive’s optimal trip, the ground is fine for him and I think he has every chance of beating the younger upstarts here. At odds of 8/1 he is the e/w pick.
Sandown and Perth Friday Tips: Extra Elusive e/w @ 8/1
2.40 Perth – Highland National Handicap Chase (Class 3)
A marathon trip of 30f awaits the 14 runner field in the Highland National. We had a couple of horses run well in the Scottish equivalent last weekend so hopefully we can repeat the trick. The one I’ll be backing at a decent each way price is Buck Dancing for Jessica Bedi and 7lb claimer Aaron Anderson. Bedi has yet to train a winner but this lad could change that on Friday.
This horse is a former course winner over shorter (24f). He should be fit now after a couple of outings at Newcastle in February and March. He was well beat in a 20f jumpers’ bumper on his return from a break and he ran better than the finishing position/distance beaten suggests in a handicap chase there last time.
The run that makes him of interest today was his excellent 2nd behind Doing Fine at Uttoxeter last summer. He was beat just 1L off a mark of 115 and he is now 1lb lower. Buck Dancing stayed on stoutly in that race after getting outpaced 3f out so on that evidence, this distance should suit him well. This race has likely been the plan for some time and at odds of 20/1 he is the e/w NAP of the day.
Sandown and Perth Friday Tips: Buck Dancing e/w @ 201 NAP (5 places)
3.00 Sandown – Bet365 Mile (Group 2)
A disappointingly small field of just four will go to post for this 8f Group 2. Dual G1 winner Palace Pier heads the market for Frankie and The Gosdens. This son of Kingman is the top rated by some distance and he won’t need to be at his best to win. Khuzaam is the biggest threat according to the bookies. He has won his last two on the all-weather but he seems best on that type of a surface and he failed to win on either of his previous two turf starts.
Happy Power has some solid form in the book and he will enjoy the conditions at Sandown. Bless Him has at least won at a mile but the 7yo has to find 20lb to trouble the favourite. With no each way available this race makes no appeal as a betting heat. I’ll be sitting it out and keeping my powder dry for the finale. No bet.
Sandown and Perth Friday Tips: No bet
3.35 Sandown – Bet365 Classic Trial (Group 3)
The last live race of the day on ITV4 on Friday is this 10f Classic Trial. Ten 3yos will fight it out for the £25k first prize and it looks a very competitive renewal. The one I am going to take a punt on is Belloccio for David Menuisier and David Egan. This horse is looking to preserve a two race unbeaten record today. He scored in a Salisbury maiden on debut (8f gd/sft) and the two horses that chased him home have both won races since.
He then travelled to Toulouse for a Listed heat (8f sft) and he scored by over a length under Olivier Peslier. The runner up in that contest, Cirona, won a G3 on her return at Longchamp last week. So, the form of both those runs looks rock solid. This grey colt is by Belardo and he should enjoy going up in distance. His Mastercraftsman dam is a half sister to a trio of horses that all won at 11f or further.
David Menuisier has suggested that this fella could be one for the French Derby. If he is to head to that race he will need to be showing something today and apart from Lone Eagle and Etonian, he is the only other horse that has pattern winning form in the book. David Egan is back on board (won on him at Salisbury) and at odds of 16/1, Belloccio looks well worth chancing e/w.
