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IT’S a case of two rides and two good chances today. JUDICIAL (12.20) is first up in the Coral Charge at Sandown and all boxes are ticked.
His trainer Julie Camacho has had two winners from her last five runners, so the yard is in good form. He’s drawn well in four and the uphill finish will suit.
A fast-paced five furlongs is just his bag and a reproduction of his narrow second to Mabs Cross at Newmarket would give him an excellent chance.
Stiff
I am then off to Beverley to ride QUEENS GIFT (5.20). I was meant to ride her on her debut at Ripon but I couldn’t get there in time from Royal Ascot and she duly won, which is always the way!
She has come out of that race very well. She is dropping back from six furlongs but this stiff five should suit. She’s got a great chance.
I won’t be hanging around at Sandown to watch the Coral-Eclipse, in which Masar is the one to beat on the Derby form. It’s interesting that Donnacha O’Brien is getting down to 8st 11lb to ride Saxon Warrior and, while it looks a quick reappearance, following his third in the Irish Derby, Aidan O’Brien must be confident he’s going to show his best.
However, one at a nice price is FOREST RANGER (2.10). He’s two from two this season, beating Deauville at Newmarket and then stepping up to Group Two level to win at Chester.
With eight runners, he looks good value to finish in the frame.
It had been a frustrating week up to yesterday morning with no winners and I got desperately close a week ago when Euchan Glen was denied by a nostril at Newcastle. He made up a terrific amount of ground and only just failed.
He has to be totally switched off at the back otherwise he runs with the choke out, so he’s not the easiest ride but he’s certainly talented. You should upgrade that piece of form as to make up that amount of ground on a slow surface, like it was at Newcastle, was very eye-catching.