Sandown and York Saturday Tips by Dave Stevos
Sandown and York Saturday Racing Tips
Unfortunately neither of our selections hit the frame in France last Sunday. Lord Achilles wasn’t beaten far at all, he just needs a stronger run race to be seen at his best. Normandy Bridge played the role of pacemaker in the big one. It looked like he tried to set it up for his stablemate Millebosc but St Mark’s Basilica proved too strong. Tomorrow’s ITV Racing fare is decidedly average. Ascot starts next week so all the best horses are waiting for that. Hopefully we can nick a winner or two, check out Dave Stevos’ Sandown and York Saturday tips below.
1.40 Chester – Racing Welfare Handicap (Class 3)
As ever, over 5f at Chester the draw is important, even when there are only five runners. The one I like from stall 2 is front runner Virginia Plane. This daughter of Mehmas is a half-sister to stable star Liberty Beach. She isn’t quite as talented as her but she is a consistent sort and there is every chance that Chester will really suit her.
This filly has won two of her nine starts, both wins coming over 5f. She got off the mark on her final run of last season at Catterick (5f sft) off 67 and she added to her tally when dead heating with Four Adaay off 75 at Lingfield on the all-weather. Virginia Plane was beat just a neck on her seasonal reappearance at Ripon (5f gd/fm) which proved she handles quicker ground and she wasn’t suited by Goodwood last time. She will appreciate the return to a left handed track and at odds of 7/2, a win bet is advised.
Chester Saturday Tips: Virginia Beach win @ 7/2
2.00 York – Queen Mother’s Cup Handicap (Class 3)
This Class 3 handicap is for female amateur jockeys only and the trip is 12f. Nicholas T shaped like he was ready to win last time but he is a tricky ride and he will need things to drop just right if he is to get his head in front. Viaduct would be interesting if he takes his chance but he was in action on Friday so he must be a doubtful participant. To be honest, I can’t see any angles in this race and I am happy to sit it out. No bet.
Sandown and York Saturday Tips: No Bet
2.15 Sandown – Scurry Stakes (Listed)
The first of two pattern races on Saturday is the 5f Scurry Stakes. A couple of Irish raiders add intrigue to this contest but the clear favourite is Marco Botti’s Atalis Bay. He chased Winter Power home last time in a Listed race at York (5f gd) and while he was 3L behind the winner, he was 5L ahead of the 3rd. The son of Cable Bay will enjoy the good ground and if he reproduces what he did at York, he could be hard to beat.
Steel Bull is joint top rated with Atalis Bay with a mark of 103. Michael O’Callaghan’s son of Clodovil ran a blinder in a G2 at Doncaster last season (also won a Goodwood G3) and he has had excuses since. He suffered early interference when beat in a Listed heat at Dundalk and the ground was too soft for him at Naas on his seasonal return. He gets his ground today and in a first time tongue tie, he could go very well.
Another horse who has had excuses the last twice is Nelson Gay. This horse looked hugely progressive when winning two handicaps in a row to start off the season. The second of those wins came over today’s C&D off 82 when he destroyed his rivals by over 6L. Next time at Goodwood he got no cover and he was far too keen. 6 furlongs looked beyond him last time and dropping back to 5f looks sure to suit, as will the return to Sandown. Ryan Moore looks a good booking and at odds of 10/1, he looks worth chancing each way.
Sandown and York Saturday Tips: Nelson Gay e/w @ 10/1
2.35 York – JCB Handicap (Class 2)
I am going to take a chance on one at a big price in this 7F handicap. Troubador looks like he is back down to a competitive mark and on a couple of his runs over 6f, 7f looks well worth another go. This 4yo son of Poet’s Voice won four races as a 2yo, including a York handicap over 6f (off 83). He was beat just a neck over the same C&D off 93 subsequently before signing off with a superb effort in the Listed Two Year Old Trophy at Redcar (6f hvy).
Unfortunately, all that success meant he returned to action last season off a mark of 101. He ran a cracker on his second start of the season at Pontefract in a 6f handicap off 99, beat 1.5L into 2nd. His form tailed off after that good run and to my eyes, it looks like connections have been trying to get him back down the weights. He is now back down to a mark of 91 and given his previous course form, they may well decide to go for it today.
The 7f trip is a worry as he finished well beaten on his only previous try at the distance. However, if you look at his run at Newmarket last season over 6f when he stayed on well to the line, 7f at York looks well worth trying again. His pedigree offers hope he’ll get this trip too and at odds of 25/1, Troubador is a the e/w selection.
Sandown and York Saturday Tips: Troubador e/w @ 25/1 NB (W Hill)
2.50 Sandown – Coral Handicap (Class 2)
The one I like at a big price in this mile handicap is former course and distance winner, Delicate Kiss. This 7yo mare has been a grand servant for connections and her trainer, John Bridger, is having a good season. He has had eight winners already this year, the same amount as he managed in the whole of 2020. This mare contributed three of those wins in 2020, her last victory coming four runs ago off 81 in December at Lingfield.
She has only managed to win one race on turf, here off 73 in September of last year off 73. She had only a head to spare that day but she pulled nicely clear with the runner up and they were 4L clear of the 3rd. This daughter of Delegator likes it at Sandown. She has career form figures of 2621 over C&D and overall course form figures of 322226241.
Admittedly, those runs all came at a lower class than today but she has at least won off this mark on the all weather and her two runs at Kempton should have her spot on fitness wise. Quite a few of her rivals here look to be at the wrong end of the handicap and if she is ever going to go close in a decent race, this could be it. At odds of 25/1, a small each way interest is advised.
Sandown and York Saturday Tips: Delicate Kiss e/w @ 25/1
3.05 York – Grand Cup Stakes (Listed)
Just the four runners go to post for this 14f Listed heat and it is a tight affair. Ranch Hand is the top rated at 108 but he carries a penalty for his Listed win last September. Makawee is rated 105 but she carries just 8st 9lbs in comparison to Ranch Hand’s 9st 3lbs so that is why she is the market leader at around 9/4.
Frankie rides the admirable veteran Red Verdon and the 8yo is the only previous C&D winner in the field. Roberto Escobar is the least exposed and William Haggas’ runners are always deserving of respect on the Knavesmire. With no each way terms available I have zero interest in this race as a betting heat. I hope Red Verdon wins it but I’m happy to sit this one out. No bet.
Sandown and York Saturday Tips: No Bet
3.20 Chester – Handicap (Class 2)
Another frustratingly small field with just seven runners declared for this 12.5f handicap for 3yos. At the time of writing not one of the competitors was double figure odds and the presence of three Mark Johnston horses muddies the water further. It is a yard I find extremely difficult to read and for me, this is a race left well alone. No bet.
chester Saturday Tips: No Bet
3.40 York – Catherine Memorial Sprint Heritage Handicap (Class 2)
Finally, a decent sized field! Seventeen 3yos are due to line up in the stalls for this 6f Heritage Handicap and a case could be made for quite a few of them. The one that makes most appeal to me from an each way perspective is Uncle Jumbo for Kevin Ryan with Shane Gray doing the steering. This son of Territories ran a blinder on his only previous visit to York and he has proved a couple of times this season that he is capable of going close off his current mark of 93.
He was poor last time out in a small field at Leicester but he was ridden by an inexperienced claimer. At Pontefract back in April he was unlucky not to win when he found all sorts of trouble in running. He is now 1lb lower and I think the return to this track is going to suit him. Shane Gray has ridden over 70 winners for Ryan and he is 6/50 (with 13 top 4 finishes) for this owner. If the first time cheekpieces can eke out a small bit of improvement, Uncle Jumbo is capable of going extremely close at odds of 20/1.
