Goldspur to stress Classic potential

Goldspur can further strengthen Charlie Appleby’s already formidable Classic hand with victory in the bet365 Classic Trial tomorrow.

The Moulton Paddocks handler has been firing on all cylinders in the past 10 days, with five winners at Newmarket’s Craven meeting followed by another five at Newbury over the weekend.

Nahanni then threw his hat into the Derby ring when scoring at Epsom on Tuesday and Goldspur is expected to follow suit at Sandown.

A runaway winner on his debut at the Esher venue in September, the Dubawi colt doubled his tally in the Group Three Zetland Stakes the following month to earn himself a step up to the highest level.

Goldspur had to make do with minor honours when third in the Criterium de Saint-Cloud, but that form received a significant boost a few weeks ago after the runner-up Stone Age bolted up at Navan.

Appleby’s subsequent Derby hero Adayar was a narrowly beaten second in this race 12 months ago, but Goldspur can go one better under William Buick.

Mutasaabeq is taken to cause a minor upset in the bet365 Mile.

The clear class act in the Group Two contest is Andrew Balding’s triple Group Onewinning filly Alcohol Free, who has plenty in hand on official ratings and is priced up accordingly.

However, her two best performances of last season came on much softer ground than she will encounter here and she was disappointing on her final start of 2021 at Ascot, so taking odds-on makes no appeal.

The Charlie Hills-trained Mutasaabeq, on the other hand, arrives off the back of an impressive comeback victory at Thirsk a fortnight ago.

He clearly has more on his plate at Sandown, but he was not beaten all that far in last year’s 2000 Guineas and there is every chance he has not yet reached the ceiling of his ability.

Mutasaabeq can complete a big-race double for the Shadwell team, with Mostahdaf difficult to oppose in the bet365 Gordon Richards

Stakes.

John and Thady Gosden’s runner plundered two Listed prizes at Sandown last season and rounded off his campaign by winning the Group Three Darley Stakes on the Rowley Mile.

He must shoulder a penalty for the latter of those victories, but there is every chance the step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time can help him take his game to another level.

Doncaster punters are advised to put their faith in the Roger Varian-trained Rizg in the Download The At The Races App Novice Stakes.