Former Talksport man Charlie McCann marks your card with eight to follow on Saturday at Sandown, Chester, Newton Abbot and Market Rasen. View selections below
The Group 3 Solario Stakes was won by the brilliant Kingman last year but we are unlikely to see as good a winner at Sandown Park this afternoon in what looks a modest renewal of this Group 3 contest.
Elm Park would be of interest if bypassing Salisbury last night but the least experienced runner in the field Future Empire (2.40) looked smart on debut and the second, third and fourth placed horses have all franked the form winning next time out. As a son of New Approach his ability to act on slow ground must be taken on trust although his half-brother Black Arrow was a soft ground winner in Germany. The colt will get further than 7f in time and holds an entry in many of the leading back-end juvenile contests. He is 9/4 with BetVictor and he might be a bit better than today’s rivals.
Fintry (3.15) carries a 7lb penalty for winning in Group 2 company in France back in June and her subsequent absence from the track is a slight concern but Andre Fabre wouldn’t make the journey from Chantilly if he didn’t have the filly primed for a big run and she gets the vote with regular pilot Maxine Guyon again in the saddle.
At Chester Dungannon (2.20) looked to be coming back to his best at Nottingham last time and has dropped to a mark 3lbs lower than his last winning mark. He has the plum draw in stall one but will need luck in running given he is a hold-up horse. The five-and-a-half furlong trip looks ideal and his talented apprentice take off another 7lbs.
Big Orange (3.30) has been raised 17lbs for finishing fourth in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot and can land the listed Chester Stakes for the classic generation. The slight drop back in trip should suit as the selection led at this distance at the Royal meeting and he receives plenty of weight from his elders in this decent handicap. Whiplash Willie is the 3/1 favourite for Andrew Balding but at 8/1 with BetVictor Big Orange gets the nod.
Azmaam (4.40) has the plum draw in stall one and might not have got home over a mile last time so this drop back in trip should suit. Paul Hanagan takes the mount and he might have most to fear from Le Rouquin (4.40) although I’m not convinced this tight track will suit the once-raced colt who shaped with considerable promise on debut at Newmarket.
At Market Rasen The Last Night will appreciate retuning to a right hand track having not appreciated going the other way round at Stratford when last seen three months ago. He is sure to have his supporters given he goes well fresh but his stamina must be taken on trust and preference is for C&D winner Explained (6.30) who should appreciate tonight’s conditions having found two miles at Perth too sharp a test last time.
At Newton Abbot Buck Mulligan (3.20) is one of three in the field for Evan Williams in the feature chase and he can reverse recent Southwell running with Dursey Sound on 8lbs better terms. David Pipe saddles the top and bottom weights and no surprise that Tom Scudamore has opted for Houston Dynimo at the foot of the weights having scored at Southwell last time from an 11lb lower mark when ridden by AP McCoy.
The form of Hollow Penny’s Fontwell success was given a boost by the win of Giant O Murchu on Thursday but on this slower ground and revised terms (11lb better off) I will take a chance on Sublime Talent (5.35) who might not have been suited by the good to firm ground last time and the current good to soft ground would be ideal for a horse 7lbs lower than when last successful.
For all your racing odds this weekend check out BetVictor.com – new customers can claim £50 in free bets
Be lucky
Charlie
Compare all horse racing odds and keep up to date with our results service.
