Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Chester and Sandown Park on Saturday. View selections below.
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WAR GLORY (2.45) can end a frustrating sequence of placed efforts by landing the 7f handicap at Chester.
Richard Hannon’s gelding looked home and hosed when hitting the front a furlong out at Newmarket last time, only to be cut down by Accession. Khamaary was back in sixth and is held on the book.
War Glory had earlier ran third in the mud at Goodwood behind Truth Or Dare and he can go one better than on his last visit to the Roodee when again striking the front a furlong out before being swallowed by Viscount Barfield’s devastating late thrust. He handles this quicker surface.
In-form mare Breakable looks sure to make a bold attempt to follow up last year’s clear-cut victory in this event when making all. She is ideally berthed in stall two and arrives here on the back on an excellent second to Lincoln Rocks at York last week.
Tim Easterby’s six-year-old is another at her very best with some juice in the ground but the forecast is for blue skies all the way.
Easy Hamilton scorer Sharp Defence ran really well at Dundalk last time and was most unlucky here in May when hampered down on the rail when travelling strongly, eventually running on into fifth behind Mutawatheb and Masham Star.
There are some in-form horses going to post for the 1m 5f Chester Stakes and APPHIA (2.10) could surprise a few better fancied rivals.
Hugo Palmer’s three-year-old got rather stuck in the mud on her last two starts, but didn’t perform badly behind To Eternity and God Given respectively.
Perhaps Apphia is better judged on her fifth to Coronet in the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot on quicker ground. First-time cheek-pieces are applied and she is worth an each-way dabble.
My Reward will doubtless attempt to make all as this trip is definitely on the sharp side, especially around the Roodee. The gelding could hardly be in better nick, however, following his second to Magic Circle over two miles at York.
Who Dares Wins may also find this distance catching him out. He ran a belter in the 2m 4f Ascot Stakes, running third to Thomas Hobson, and didn’t get the best
of runs when fourth to subsequent York victor Montaly in the Chester Cup. He should be thereabouts.
Graceland’s third to Euchen Glen at Ascot was yet another sound effort but she may lack the necessary acceleration to win at this trip.
Mark Johnston’s three-year-olds Curlew River and Cape Coast look dangerous lurking at the bottom of the handicap.
The handicapper awarded Curlew River a 9lb rise for her emphatic Brighton success and that seemed to find her out in better company at York behind Fleur Forsyte. This is easier.
Trailblazing Cape Coast was beaten a head by Bin Battuta over 1m 4f at Ascot in July and the winner was only just denied at York last week in a hot handicap. I’ve a feeling the three-year-olds will come to the fore here.
ANGEL GABRIAL (5.05) hasn’t won since landing the 2014 Northumberland Plate on quick ground at Newcastle but the long drought could be about to end.
Richard Fahey’s eight-year-old is now 15lb lower on official ratings and there were signs of a revival in the Shergar Cup Stayers at Ascot when Angel Gabrial finished fifth to Euchan Glen, beaten under two lengths.
The winner came out to run a cracker at York last week and Angel Gabrial should get the strong pace he needs to attack off the home bend. Stall one, a sound surface and Adam McNamara’s 3lb claim all help.
Dour stayer Arthur MC Bride will probably be rushed up from his outside box in stall 10 and his fourth to Yorkidding over two miles on firm ground at Haydock in May is probably his best run to date.
Course winner Zenafire had Angel Gabrial behind when beating Corpus Chorister here at the end of July but the track was riding much slower then and he ideally wants some rain.
Ya Jammeel is a dual Epsom winner over 1m 4f in lesser company and two miles could well overstretch his stamina. He is another one that likes to force the pace.
St Mary’s beat Warp Factor here in May over 1m 4f and she found heavy ground at Ffos Las too much when beaten by Rolling Maul last month.
La Vie En Rose, the only three-year-old, gets in nicely at the foot of the weights and will enjoy underfoot conditions. She got caught too far out of her ground when runner-up at Wolverhampton last time.
At Sandown, ALJAZZI (3.00) can justify her prominent position in the market by scooping the BetBright Casino Atalanta Stakes.
Marco Botti’s filly outran her 40-1 odds when splitting Qemah and Usherette in the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at Royal Ascot. She didn’t appear to see out a stiff 1m1f at Newmarket when fifth to Somehow in the Dahlia Stakes in May and this mile is more suitable.
EUGINIO (3.35) looks worth an interest in the BetBright Recall Handicap, a Class 2 contest over 1m 2f.
The Hannon-trained colt caught the eye when chasing home Middle Kingdom at Newmarket in April and this Sandown winner emerged with credit when fourth to Frankuus in a strong renewal of the Rose Of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock.
Monarchs Glen has had a long break since running out of steam behind Khalidi over 1m 3f at Goodwood. This shorter distance looks more suitable for this free-going sort.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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