Alan Thomson, the former Racing Editor at the Daily Record, puts up five tips at Sandown, Haydock and Nottingham on Saturday. View selections below.
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ROARING LION (2.10) looks the value bet in a scintillating renewal of the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown. He will be right at home on the fast ground and may well take his revenge on Investec Derby winner Masar.
With Saxon Warrior a surprise but very welcome addition to the stellar cast, this promises to be a crackerjack. There was no doubting Masar’s superiority at Epsom but he may have been better served by the heavy rain that fell heavily 24 hours earlier, plus the 1m 4f trip, than his two main rivals.
Roaring Lion was very impressive over this distance when trouncing his rivals in the Dante Stakes at York, while Saxon Warrior will appreciate going 1m 2f following two Derby defeats at Epsom and the Curragh. Aidan O’Brien wouldn’t have backed him up so quickly if he thought his impressive 2000 Guineas winner hadn’t recovered fully from last weekend’s exertions. It’s one to enjoy.
Haydock provides some excellent TV action and Sir Mark Prescott’s RUDE AWAKENING (12.35) scored in the fashion of a fast improving stayer at Doncaster. He must hold solid ew claims in the 1m 6f handicap and gets the nod over Ghostwatch and Making Miracles.
The bet365 Old Newton Cup is one of the most fearsome middle-distance handicaps to be run in the north during high summer and this year is no exception. ACROSS THE STARS (1.45) doesn’t make a habit of winning but Richard Hannon’s five-year-old has run well in a couple of competitive handicaps of late. He had the worse of the draw when running-on into third behind Dash Of Spice at Epsom and may reverse placings with runner-up Golden Wolf.
Marco Botti has twice scooped this valuable prize in recent years, including 2017 winner Dylan Mouth at 25-1. His Crowned Eagle, sixth at Epsom, shouldn’t be ignored.
Top weight Blakeney Point finished fourth in the race last year from a terrible draw but is stuck out wide again in stall 16. His trainer Roger Charlton has stronger claims with likely favourite Atty Persse, although his 2017 Royal Ascot winner has been off the track for a long period. Of course, that didn’t stop Charlton’s Withhold bolting up in last Saturday’s Northumberland Plate after a similar lengthy absence!
VENTURA GOLD (8.10) is worth keeping in mind on a Saturday of sporting excellence, with Richard Fahey booking Silvestre De Sousa at Nottingham. Ventura Gold bounced off the firm ground to win at Musselburgh and wasn’t disgraced in better company behind Broken Force at Haydock a fortnight ago.
Thirty minutes earlier THE LAST EMPEROR (7.40) is on a recovery mission and Roger Varian has found him a suitable opening. The colt was well backed at Haydock but was hampered leaving the stalls. In truth, he ran a bit of a stinker in fourth but is probably a good bit better than that performance.
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Tally Ho
Alan
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