The Wine Tipster: “This stiff 5f should suit him down to the ground, giving him an excellent chance to get back to winning ways”
The Eclipse Group 1 at Sandown is a race which has a great history and is the first opportunity to gauge how the current generation measure up against their elders, which this year sees the four-year-old Ombudsman Unibet Evens heading the market from another four-year-old Sosie Unibet 9/2.
Ombudsman was brilliant in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot when beating the very smart Amnat and whilst he finished second in the Brigadier Gerard at Sandown on seasonal debut he should take this Group 1 providing Royal Ascot didn’t take too much out of him.
The main threat from the younger generation looks to come from Camille Pissarro Unibet 7/1, whose trainer has won the Eclipse three times in the last four years with three-year-olds.
Enjoy whether at Sandown or watching #athome on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
See you at Sandown.
Cheers,
The Wine Tipster
1:30 Haydock – Handicap (5f)
Mearall on his second start of this campaign put in a much better effort at Royal Ascot in the always-competitive Palaceofholyroodhouse Handicap, when finishing a close sixth in a first-time hood to Adrestia at 100/1 and looking like he was very much back on form with a career best performance.
Interestingly, the handicapper dropped him a couple of pounds and he has an excellent claimer in the plate, which gives him a strong chance from stall 1 in a smallish field.
1:50 Sandown – Charge Group 3 (5f)
Kerdos (nap) ran an absolutely belter in the King Charles Stakes III at Royal Ascot last time out when finishing a close fifth to American Affair, when first home in his group from what looked an unfavourable low draw. He looked a little rushed off his feet at one point but then stayed on well all the way to the line. Kerdos did unship his jockey on the way to the start that day and despite that hiccup this clearly didn’t affect his performance.
Kerdos won the Temple Stakes Group 2 at Haydock last season and has been keeping plenty of Group 1 company with his Royal Ascot run signifying a return to his best.
This is Kerdos’ first appearance at Sandown and this stiff 5f should suit him down to the ground, giving him an excellent chance to get back to winning ways from stall five.
2:25 Sandown – Challenge Handicap (1m)
Greek Order may that not have won a race during his four starts in America, however he was keeping good company.
He showed on his return to these shores at Royal Ascot some of his best form when a close fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup to the very well-handicapped My Cloud, who looked a Group horse in the making. Greek Order was on the same side of the course as the winner in the unfavoured stand side group, with the second and third in the favoured lower numbers. Greek Order has been given a small raise by the handicapper, but it was his first start since March and you can expect a step up from Royal Ascot.
3.00 Sandown – Distaff Fillies’ Listed Race (1m)
Supermodel won at Nottingham on seasonal debut at the start of June when ridden out to beat Treasure by 2¼ lengths. She went clear from two furlongs out and was never going to be pegged back in what was a very taking performance on her third career start.
Supermodel will get further and this improving type will be suited by Sandown.
4.12 Sandown – Handicap (7f)
Arctic Grey trained by Unibet Ambassador Richard Hannon was my selection for the Britannia Stakes Handicap at Royal Ascot on the back of season form figures of 121, with a good win at Goodwood when beating Fort George.
Arctic Grey was short of room run two furlongs out at Royal Ascot after taking a keen hold and you can ignore that run.
This colt in a smaller field will settle better, will race prominently as he likes to do and he will reward each way players.
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