In a slight change of
tack (no pun intended) this week, we’ve decided to have a crack at
the ROR – Retraining of Racehorses Handicap (6.35) at Sandown on
Wednesday. The race is run over 7 furlongs and 16 yards on a course
where the ability to see out the trip well is vital and, as
importantly, around a right hand bend, which hands horses drawn low a
distinct advantage. A total of 16 three-year-olds, including several
unexposed types, are due to go to post, so a ‘shock’ result is by
no means out of the question.
Sexton Blake has
yet to trouble the judge in three starts, but ran his best race to
date when fourth of 15, beaten 2¾ lengths, in a Lingfield maiden
over 7 furlongs on his penultimate start. He subsequently ran
creditably in defeat in a similar race, over a seemingly inadequate 6
furlongs, at the Surrey course and should benefit from stepping back
up in distance, if proving equally effective on turf. His one run on
turf, on his racecourse debut at Ascot last September, was
inconclusive, but if he does handle underfoot conditions he remains
open to improvement.
Protest started
the campaign well enough, when only beaten 1 length, despite
finishing fourth of five, in a similar race over 7 furlongs at
Wolverhampton in April, but has shown little in three starts since,
including back at Wolverhampton last time. None of his turf form is
anything to write home about, but he is 5lb lower in the weights than
when winning at Wolverhampton, so would be interesting in an ordinary
race if able to reproduce that form.
Selections:
Sandown 6.35 Sexton Blake, Protest
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