Fast ground the order of the day at Sandown where I expect
to see Politics (12.35) go one better than when runner up on debut at
Pontefract for Andrew Balding. The selection was slowly away from a moderate
draw on that occasion, but was well backed, finished his race well and looked a
sure-fire future winner.
That is the best form on offer although a market move for
Clive Cox's well-bred newcomer First Edition would be significant given the
strength of the stable's juveniles this term.
Charlie Appleby has saddled the winner of the mile maiden
twice in the last three years and he has declared Symbolic Power (2.35) for
this afternoon's renewal. The Kingman colt cost 2.3m gns as a yearling and is
out of a sister to Fame And Glory. Balding's Recovery Run has finished second
in a couple of all-weather contests over 7f and gives the impression this step
up in trip will suit for his turf debut. He sets the standard, but the
Godolphin newcomer gets the vote in what promises to be an informative contest.
The 3-y-old 10f handicap is the best race on the card and John
Gosden saddles two, top-weight Enemy and Nova Roma (3.30) with the narrow vote
going to the latter who failed to cope with the soft ground at Newbury last
time. The selection had previously looked a horse of Group potential when
scoring at Windsor although the time was slow, and the form has not stood up.
Enemy did not get the clearest of runs when runner up here
last month on his first start over this trip, and a 2lbs rise looks fair. The
colt had previously finished fourth in the Britannia at Royal Ascot and looks
sure to run another big race, but I was taken with the success of Nova Roma on
his penultimate start and is given another chance back on fast ground.
In the 7f fillies handicap the twice-raced Arabic Charm
(4.30) drops back in trip having travelled well for a long way when third over
a mile at Windsor last time. Jim Crowley takes over in the saddle on the
daughter of Exceed And Excel and she is taken to make a bold bid from the
front. The ew selection – 7/1 at William Hill – has the plum draw in stall one.
The ground was described as soft at Cartmel at noon on
Thursday and conditions are likely to be quite tacky and holding for today's
card.
Finisk River (12.50) didn't treat his hurdles with much
respect on his rules debut at Bangor-on-Dee last month but he ran a cracking
race in third. The selection finished second in a point-to-point on soft ground
and I will be disappointed if he doesn't run a big race although the drop back
in trip is less than ideal. That said I hope to see Brian Hughes make it a true
test and run the finishing kick out of the obvious danger Now Children. The
latter was rated in the 90s on the level but finished weakly when fifth on his
first start for Oliver Greenall. Today's softer ground is a plus, but I favour
the Donald McCain runner.
Tom George has a couple of fascinating runners in the
handicap chases including Seddon in the 2m 5f novice handicap. He gave the
outside up to nobody at Stratford on his first chase start and it will be
interesting to see what the market says about his chances with that run under
his belt.
George also saddles Stop The World in the 3m 1f handicap
chase and this seven-year-old will have few better opportunities to break his
maiden tag. The yard are struggling for winners but have been hitting the bar
of late and preference for Rising Marienbard (3.10) is marginal. The selection
has had a wind operation since his last start back in the spring and receives
24lbs – including jockey's allowance – from the top-weight. The selection is
another long-standing maiden although he did win between the flags in his
native Ireland.
Neil Mulholland's Deputy Jones has been all the rage in the
opening salvos for the 2m 6f handicap hurdle but I am keen on the hat-trick
seeking Talkingpicturestv (4.20) who has won her last couple under Millie
Wonnacott and carries a 7lbs penalty for a fluent success at Market Rasen last
month. The handicapper has raised her 11lbs for that effort so the selection
would be carrying another 4lbs if this race were staged from Saturday onwards.
At Hamilton Justified (7.00) can return to winning ways
having finished second here last weekend over 1m 3f. Mark Johnston's 3-y-old
steps up in distance another couple of furlongs this evening, but wasn't
stopping last time and is the brother to a two-mile winner. As befits a son of
Authorized soft ground suits.
