Preview
05 July 2008
2.40 Sandown Toteswinger Stakes
(Heritage Handicap) 1M Good to firm
Horses to Consider
Celtic Sultan - Ran of a true line
at Chester to win at their May meeting and that performance still
holds some weight at this level even though it wasn't as strong as
this race today. The more galloping track of Sandown should help the
horse I feel and given how he has ran at Newmarket in the past and
that has weighed it up to have a strong say of a mark that is only
2lbs higher then when he won at Chester. Tried over seven furlongs
since landing that race the step back up in trip should be in his
favour having improved for this trip and there could still be more
to come which will be needed under this weight in this class. The
pace is likely to be strong and I feel you don't want to be stuck on
the fence angling for room up the home straight so from Stall 12 he
should tuck in behind the likely strong pace.
Lang Shinning - Shouldn't take the
Royal Hunt cup as the draw played a massive factor in that race with
the tactics of those drawn high and the form this horse showed at
York is better to be based on. That run in a small field was a bit
of a let down in terms of result, but in defeat and the way the race
panned out I would say that he lost nothing in defeat. Following Sir
Michael Stoute at this course pays dividends and his mount here has
the perfect draw in 9 for this handicap to tuck in and make headway
on the outside under the course specialist Ryan Moore. The quick
ground suits and he has clocked some fair times under these
conditions with the mile trip ideal and could well make up into a
Pattern horse, as he is still quite unexposed. Ran well here last
season.
Flipando - Ran well on conditions
that would be considered as soft enough under foot and showed at
Newcastle that he is a horse that retains his conditioning well and
even though one of the older handicappers in this race he deserves
respect. Thundered home over seven furlongs at Doncaster and the
mile trip should be more up his street as he looks handicapped to do
himself justice and deserves to make the shortlist. Ran well enough
at this track when contesting this race back in 2006 and has seemly
improved since those days as he has got older. The more unexposed
types are likely to be the ones to make the finishing in this as
they look likely to progress past what the more exposed types have
in the past and Flipando run in the royal hunt cup last season or
the Zetland Gold Cup form is the marker that they aim at, Jamie
Spencer back in the saddle is eye catching and a decent effort is
expected.
Fifteen Love - The tennis fever is
taking over the country at Present with the Wimbledon finals this
weekend and Fifteen Love who had his day at Royal Ascot when winning
the Britannia comes into this race in sparkling form with the return
to the saddle of Richard Hughes for the Abdulla team in this
handicap. The horse reared at the start in Ascot but still managed
to come through to lead of a strong pace to just deny Masalaak and
could well confirm that form despite the tougher terms here today.
Can show plenty of pace and drawn in 3 he will need to show plenty
of dash to avoid getting stuck behind a wall of horses so a missed
break could well cost him dear today. Fast conditions suit and he is
still unexposed with the 9lbs age allowance quite a deciding factor
this time of year.
Masaalak - Just denied from the high
side of the draw at Ascot which had no bearing on the races it
seemed on the straight course and if only the Royal Hunt Cup was ran
in the same way as the Britannia it would have made the form book
easier to read. This horse is going the right way and the quick
conditions are ideal for this horse that has a turn of foot, Richard
Hills rode in these colours well yesterday with a all the way
success, however with this horse there is likely to be a change of
tactics as he looks a type that needs to be produced late enough in
the day and wont be raced up with the pace this time from draw 14
and expect him to come from behind, whether he will get first run on
Lang Shinning is interesting. Verdict - Tight handicap, but as
always a decent race usually won by a progressive type. Mark
Johnston has 3 runners in this handicap and that has to be respected
from a top trainer, however his yard are just a little below form
and his 3 runners don't come here holding the best form on offer,
The royal Ascot form is well represented in this race and there
should be a strong gallop in this race on ground which they don't
stop in front if getting given a timed run like Richard Hills did
yesterday, however there should be a dual for the pace with Prince
of Light, Fifteen Love (low draw will force hand) and Bahar Shumaal
who doesn't know any other way around here from a low draw. This
should set it up for a closer and Masaalak could well be one of
those runners today on the wide outside, however Lang Shinning could
well get first run and Sir Michael Stoute knows what it takes to win
races here and Ryan Moore is the best in the business around here.
Advised Bet - 2 pts win Lang
Shinning @ 6/1
Well Chief
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