JK<M< ;I8NJ DL:? I<JG<:K
I have five rides at Sandown and I start off with BONJOUR STEVE (2.10), who goes in the randox.com Handicap.
We are drawn really well in stall two and over five furlongs that is a huge advantage. I’m riding at 8st 6lb and I know that reflects his form, but I think a lightweight is important.
There is not a lot between the field and with all that in our locker he would be one of my better rides of the day.
I wear Sheikh Hamdan’s black cap on GHEEDAA (2.40) in the Listed Randox Health Scurry Stakes and she has a bit going for her.
She may have pulled hard a few times but I’m not really worried about that.
Over longer distances you want to get a horse that pulls in behind, drop their head and be quiet on them to get them settled but over 5f you are travelling for three furlongs before you go after them so it’s not often an issue.
We’re well drawn in stall three and in four runs she has never been out of the first two.
Ardad sets the standard, though. He won the Windsor Castle at Royal Ascot last season and then followed up in the Flying Childers at Doncaster so is proven at this level but he does carry a penalty.
I haven’t spoken to William Knight yet but I would have thought we would try to boss the Randox Handicap in which I ride his SEA SHACK (3.15).
He has led quite a few times and, with only six rivals, our wide draw in seven should not be too much of a problem.
I know AYR OF ELEGANCE (5.35) stays every inch of the 1m6f trip in the Randox Food Handicap so I’ll try to make use of her. She has won over two miles .
It is fair to say that CORREDORDEL VIENTO (5.35) will need to step up on his two runs if he is going to be competitive in the Randox Health British EBF Maiden Stakes.
Tomorrow, keep an eye out for Henry Candy’s SON OF AFRICA (4.00) at Doncaster. I have won on him before and he has a lot of talent, he just needs things to go his way.
Gallop
I read this week that Wesley Ward was allowed to work his horses at Ascot ahead of next week’s royal meeting.
I’m not sure how fair that is for the British trainers. Why should one trainer be allowed a racecourse gallop when others cannot?
I agree with Ascot that you can’t have everybody sending horses there for a racecourse gallop, as their priority is the state of the going but then that really should mean that nobody gets the chance.
We are talking about juveniles, some of them once-raced, getting the chance to go to the parade ring and having a look at the track they are going to run on.