It’s a mixed bad of racing this weekend with the speedsters on show in the Beverley Bullet. Jubiloso puts his credentials on the line in the Atalanta Stakes, while Positive tries to go one better than hen running in the Vintage Stakes.
Sandown
Play 4 Handicap
Jason Watson takes the ride on Tinto, who drops back to five following a close run thing at HQ last week. He looks sure to run well again but could be vulnerable.
Mick Appleby’s Saaheq has seen plenty of racing this season and was a course and distance winner earlier in the campaign. He ran well at ground softer than ideal when last seen and should go close again.
Justanotherbottle was well fancied in the Stewards’ Cup at Goodwood where he wasn’t beaten overly far but he was slightly disappointing at York. I still think he’s feasibly handicapped but needs to prove it.
Ryan Moore takes the reins on Embour for the Hannon team who’s a three-time winner this season but surely there are better-handicapped horses in the field.
Selection: Justanotherbottle – E/W
Heed Your Hunch Handicap
William Haggas’ Country wasn’t beaten far in what’s working out to be a good maiden on debut and has continued to progress by winning his next three starts. A mark of 93 looks feasible and should be able to land the four-timer.
Solid Stone was overturned at short odds when last seen but I think he’ll improve for the step back up in trip. that being said I think there are others better handicapped.
Migration has been contesting all the major handicaps this season and won a course and distance handicap in good style most recently. He runs off a six-pound higher mark now but that may not be enough to stop his progress.
Marcus Tregoning’s yard has been in decent form all season and the former Dermot Weld inmate Mutaabeq has a live each-way chance. I think he’s a pattern performer in the making and off this mark, he’s got claims.
Selection: Country
Atalanta Stakes
Sir Michael Stoute has won three of the last seven runnings of this Group 3 contest and has a leading chance again here with Jubiloso who’s the top-rated horse in the race having finished third in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes earlier in the season. This is the best form on offer and she’ll be tough to beat.
Duneflower has won both her starts since a mid-season break and looked good when taking the listed Valiant Stakes at Ascot. The well-bred daughter of Dubawi looks quite progressive and should go well.
It looks on paper that it’s a two-horse race but perhaps one for the frame could be Look Around who just lost out to Duneflower most recently and has the assistance of Oisin Murphy.
Selection: Jubiloso
Solario Stakes
The Solario Stakes sees a host of unexposed colts do battle with Clive Cox’s Positive one of the leading contenders. He ran a great race in the Vintage Stakes where he was well beaten but the winner looks like the best two-year-old in training so there was no shame in that run.
Al Suhail showed the benefit of his debut run to justify his prohibitive odds at Yarmouth on his second start. The well-bred colt can continue to improve and he’ll take beating.
Visinari (Right)
Mark Johnston’s Visinari has ground to make up with Positive on their Vintage Stakes running but prior to that, he went close in the July Stakes and perhaps he’s better than that Vintage run.
An outsider to note is Kameko from the Andrew Balding yard. He won well on debut at Sandown and is an unknown quantity.
Selection: Positive
Beverley
Silver Cup Handicap
Dark Vision’s form figures are far from inspiring but have been in much hotter company and if he can reproduce last season’s Group 2 winning form then he’ll take all the beating.
We didn’t see Desert Icon as a juvenile and he’s progressed nicely all season but I think there are classier individuals in here.
Andrew Balding’s Good Birthday was fifth in a competitive handicap at Newmarket last month and can continue to progress enough to take this contest following a short break.
Selection: Good Birthday
Beverley Bullet
This race will be fast and furious and none are quicker than Ornate but unfortunately for him, he only stays four and a bit furlongs. He set a blistering pace which contributed to Battaash setting a course record in the Nunthorpe last week.
Tis Marvellous
Tis Marvellous routed a quality field of handicappers at Ascot last month and the eight-pound hike in the ratings puts him clear of his rivals in theory. Previous to that un he was second in the Wokingham and seems to be a sprinter on the upgrade.
Mick Appleby’s Danzeno returned from a near year absence this season and has won twice and finished close-up in the Wokingham and in the Shergar Cup.
Others to consider include Tarboosh, Copper Knight and Judicial.
Selection: Tis Marvellous
Chester
Chester Stakes
Just the six face the starter here and it’s very taking that Dermot Weld sends Stivers over. The ex-South American trained runner has his first start for the master of Rosewell and brings Group 1 form to the table.
Outbox won all three starts as a three-year-old and although he’s yet to win this season, he’s run well on all five starts. He’s twice come up against King’s Advice and should get his head in front now.
To be honest I think it lies between the top two in the market with each of the other runners having to find at least eight pounds on the book.
Selection: Outbox
