Hi all,
It’s a busy Saturday with plenty of fancies from York, Sandown, and Chester. Today’s post is out earlier than normal as I’m out this evening and its why there are more selections than usual, as I don’t have the time to reduce the shortlist.
York
1:50 – Alflaila – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – The selection has improved with each start this season finishing runner-up to race favourite Mighty Ulysses two starts back. He’s since gone onto win a Pontefract Listed race (1m). Although neither horse is guaranteed to appreciate today’s extra furlong. If they go an even gallop, I think Alflaila can reverse placing with the favourite.
Sandown
2:40 – Defence Of Fort – 4/1 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – Looked a very useful prospect when forging clear to beat 11 rivals on his racecourse debut last month. He has Group 1 entries, is open to plenty of improvement and should be suited by Sandown’s stiff finish.
3:50 – Ajero – 6/1 @ Bet365 – Failed to stay 1m 4f when 2nd of 17 to Candleford in the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot two starts back. However, he went one place better dropped back to 1m 1f at Goodwood three weeks ago. Up 7lb for his Goodwood win but he remains unexposed on the flat and today’s 1m 2f should suit him well.
5:35 – Chipstead – 100/30 @ Bet365 – Was in great form this time last season completing a Bath hat trick of 5f wins between August & September. Struggled to reach that level of form on his first four starts this season but bounced back to something more like it when a ½ length 2nd of 15 in the Fitzdares Sprint Series Final at Windsor 19-days ago. Should win this if in the same form as last time.
Chester
3:05 – Loft – 9/4 @ Coral & Ladbrokes – It’s not often that you get a Grade 2 Belmont Park winner running at Chester, but we do here with the selection. The German challenger shouldn’t have any problem with the track and even with a 7lb penalty to carry for winning in a higher grade, he’s my strongest fancy of the day.
3:40 – Titan Rock – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Has dropped below his last winning mark and looked to be coming into form when 4 ¾ length 5th of 17 in a Goodwood handicap 24-days ago. He was doing his best work at the finish that day from the widest draw. Better drawn in stall 4 today and showed he handled track when a head runner-up in last year’s race. Big chance for the inform John Quinn yard.
4:15 – Sampers Seven – 11/2 @ Bet365 – Twice a winner in 2020 the mare has returned from missing the whole of 2021 in decent enough form. She was only beaten a neck on her return to action at Haydock in May and bounced back from a couple of low-key efforts to finish a 2 ½ length 3rd of 11 here over 5f last month. The runner-up has won since so the form looks decent. Given she was drawn out wide in stall 11 it was a good effort to finish as close as she did last time. Better drawn here in stall 4 and although she has an extra ½ f to race, I think she will stay it with a more economical ride and the inform Jason Hart in the saddle.
Cheers
John