Sandown’s mouth-watering eight-race card headlines the domestic action on Saturday, with the Group 1 Eclipse (3.35), which features three Group 1 winners, ranking as the featured event.
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Racing Post tipster Tom Collins previews Saturday’s action at Sandown exclusively for MansionBet.
1.15 Sandown
This 5f handicap provides punters with a tricky and trappy start to a competitive card. Recent course-and-distance winners Spoof and Saaheq warrant respect off 2lb and 3lb higher respectively, while Epsom Dash scorer Mokaatil deserves to be towards the head of the market. However, preference at the prices is for Pop Dancer, who has good form at this track and should appreciate the switch back to turf.
Selection: Pop Dancer @ 16/1
1.50 Sandown
Stall nine could be a blessing for Came From The Dark, who isn’t known for his early pace but has a change of gear that is near enough unmatched in this field. It would be easy to predict a troubled passage for the Ed Walker-trained sprinter had he drawn low, but from his starting berth in the middle of the track, Came From The Dark is expected to build on his luckless Newmarket second to take this prize.
Selection: Came From The Dark @ 4/1
2.25 Sandown
You can go a number of directions in this handicap with the majority of runners exiting Royal Ascot contests, an inexperienced four-year-old at the foot of the weights and a Group performer at the top. I like the latter, Montatham, who wasn’t beaten far by Top Rank on his seasonal reappearance and looked a star in the making when he beat Dark Vision in this race last year. Adam Farragher’s 5lb claim will prove invaluable.
Selection: Montatham @ 5/1
3.00 Sandown
Statement is the standout performer if she repeats her Fred Darling second – it would be foolish to rule against her for win purposes. Given her dominance in the market, there is value on offer elsewhere and Seattle Rock could be the forgotten filly after an impressive novice victory. The Sylvester Kirk-trained three-year-old performed to a high level in 2020 and didn’t seem to handle the Rowley Mile on her first two starts this term.
Selection: Seattle Rock @ 10/1
3.35 Sandown
What the Eclipse lacks in quantity this year, it certainly isn’t matched by the quality. A cross-generational clash between three Group 1 scorers is in store and it could produce a protracted battle down the Sandown straight. The best bet in the race is Addeybb, who will relish the forecast rain and has been primed for this after another successful Australian raid.
Selection: Addeybb @ 3/1
4.10 Sandown
Roger Varian wouldn’t pick up too many horses from the Horses-In-Training Sales but in Classical Wave he’s been sent an improving four-year-old who is open to bundles of improvement on just his fourth turf start. He rattled through the grades in the spring when trained by Peter Charalambous and made 240,000gns at the sales, so new connections clearly believe his progression hasn’t been halted just yet.
Selection: Classical Wave @ SP
4.45 Sandown
Henry Candy’s string is yet to hit top gear this season (just 1-31 in June) but his search for an overdue winner may end with Run To Freedom in this 7f handicap. The Muhaarar colt gamely denied subsequent Feilden Stakes winner and St James’s Palace sixth Highland Avenue in a Kempton novice event in December and certainly wasn’t disgraced when runner-up on his seasonal reappearance over this course and distance.
Selection: Run To Freedom @ SP
5.15 Sandown
Adaay’s meteoric rise up the stallion ranks may receive another boost courtesy of Remedium, a four-race maiden who deserves to get his head in front after three placed efforts this season. The Thurloe Thoroughbreds-owned gelding was only beaten a length-and-a-quarter by Derby fifth Third Realm on his return, one start prior to him getting lonely in front at Windsor. This conventional track should play to his strengths.
Selection: Remedium @ SP
*All odds correct at time of writing