Race 1
It has taken a while for David Menuisier to hit form this season, but in recent weeks his horses have been running extremely well. He has a couple of interesting runners this evening and Psychotic goes for him in the opening 10f handicap off top weight. With his seasonal comeback under his belt I think this 5yo son of Nayef could go close. He ran well on debut at Salisbury on good ground (7f), staying on well and shaping as if in need of further.
He was stepped up to 10f next time at Goodwood but he got no luck in running and was beaten into 5th of 6, beaten 4.5L. He got off the mark at the third attempt dropped back to a mile on the all weather at Kempton and the handicapper awarded him a mark of 80. He is now running off 75 after a poor comeback run on unsuitable ground over 7f at Doncaster and back on a sounder surface and upped in trip he can give each way backers a run for their money at odds of 16/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: PSYCHOTIC E/W @ 16/1
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| Vintage Brut made a taking debut at Thirsk. |
Race 2
The first live race on ITV4 will be the National Stakes for 2yos and I strongly fancy one for this 5f contest. Tim Easterby’s horses are starting to come into form and I was hugely impressed by the manner of Vintage Brut’s debut win at Thirsk. As a general rule, Easterby’s 2yos come on loads for their racecourse debuts, but this fella looked every inch a professional when destroying his rivals on his first ever start at Thirsk (5f sft) at odds of 25/1.
The son of Dick Turpin was always positioned prominently and it looked for a second or two he might be outpaced 3f out. However, he responded immediately to David Allan’s urgings and he soon drew level with the two early leaders. David Allan gave him a gentle touch with the whip 2f out and Vintage Brut quickened smartly, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides and surging clear to win by 7L. His action suggests that quick ground won’t be an issue and at 5/1 he is my NAP of the day. He is a horse to watch for the summer.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: VINTAGE BRUT @ 5/1 NAP
Race 3
It really is a quality card at Sandown on Thursday and the third race of the evening is the Listed Heron Stakes. This mile heat will be contested by nine 3yo colts and Without Parole is going to be difficult to beat for John Gosden and Frankie. This striking son of Frankel made a big impression on his return to action at Yarmouth (8f gd/fm), destroying next time out winner Ostilio by 6L with a further break of 8L back to the 3rd.
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| Without Parole looks a horse with huge potential. |
It was a visually impressive performance and he won in similar fashion by the exact same margin on his sole 2yo run at Newcastle. He looks by far the most likely winner. At a huge price Petrus could go well for Brian Meehan and Oisin Murphy. His sole visit to Sandown resulted in a decisive 7f maiden win (gd/fm) and he was only 4L behind Roaring Lion on unsuitable ground at Newmarket. 10f stretched his stamina last time and back in trip returned to Sandown he could outrun his odds of 40/1.
STEVOS’ SELECTIONS: WITHOUT PAROLE WIN 10/11; PETRUS E/W 40/1.
Race 4
The Group 3 Henry II stakes is the fourth race on the card and a field of eight stayers will go to post for this 16f contest. John Gosden and Frankie again look to hold a strong hand with 11/4 fav Weekender, but this rates as a big step up in class for the 4yo son of Frankel. He has risen through the handicap ranks but he was beaten his sole start at pattern level in a Listed Race, this is his first start beyond 14f and at the prices I think he might be worth taking on.
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| Red Verdon holds solid each way claims. |
The one I like here on his second start at this trip is Red Verdon for Ed Dunlop and James Doyle. This 5yo son of Lemon Drop Kid has always looked an out and out stayer to me and he showed he got the trip well when beaten less than a length at Lingfield 2 runs back. His lack of gears cost him last time over 12f at Newmarket under an enterprising ride from James Doyle, but I liked how he galloped all the way to the line and he held on comfortably for 2nd. He ran very well on his only previous visit to Sandown so this race may have been the plan and at 11/1 he rates as a solid e/w bet.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: RED
VERDON E/W @ 11/1 NB
The feature race of the night at Sandown is the 10f Group 3 Brigadier Gerard Stakes but disappointingly, only five horses will go to post. Poet’s Word is a warm order at 4/5 taking a big drop in class and he is the clear form pick for Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore. He is the highest rated horse in the field yet due to the conditions of the race he gets weight from two of his four rivals. It will be a big disappointment to connections if he doesn’t get back to winning ways here.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: POET’S
WORD @ 4/5
I mentioned earlier on that David Menuisier had a couple of interesting runners on the card and I think Contrapposto could go well for him in this closing mile handicap. This fella suffered a setback on his final start of last season in the Dante and his yard has had to work hard to get him back to the track. He ran a cracker in the Craven last season (8f gd/fm), staying on well to finish 4th, just 4L behind Eminent (now rated 116) and a couple of lengths behind Rivet (now rated 115) and Benbatl (now rated 123) off level weights.
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| If Contrapposto is back to his best he could run big at rewarding odds. |
Contrapposto runs off a mark of 95 at Sandown having been dropped a generous 4lb after his comeback run, which was likely needed, at Newbury last time. He was drawn on the wrong side and Kieran Shoemark wasn’t too hard on him when his chance had gone, so he should come on bundles for the outing. If he retains the ability he showed in the Craven last year he is he looks well treated off his current mark and at odds of 22/1 he is worth chancing for small stakes each way.
STEVOS’ SELECTION: CONTRAPPOSTO E/W @ 22/1 (4 places Padddy Power)
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