The equine stars are out at Sandown's Blue Square-sponsored evening meeting on Thursday.
The equine stars are out at Sandown's Blue Square-sponsored evening meeting on Thursday, including the current Ascot Gold Cup favourite, PAKTAI, who looks unopposable in the Group 2 Henry II Stakes (7.10).
Sir Michael Stoute's four-year-old is an 8/13 shot with Blue Square and 7/4 with the same firm for the Gold Cup. It's easy to see why as he made mincemeat of the opposition on his reappearance in the Sagaro Stakes and, Yeats apart, the staying division looks weak. The fact that his stablemate Ask, runaway winner of the Yorkshire Cup, is not even considered good enough to run in the Gold Cup, says it all really, and he's a strong fancy to land the Sandown / Ascot double, starting off with victory on Thursday evening.
Stoute unleashes his best older horse, though, in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (7.45) in the shape of Conduit. The St Leger and Breeder's Cup winner is undoubtedly the star attraction, but the market suggests he's no good thing, with Pipedreamer preferred in the betting - Coral make the latter their 2/1 favourite, with Counduit at 11/4 (3/1 Paddy Power). That's understandable as Conduit has to give 7lb to his rival, who also holds an advantage in fitness having had a run this season.
So, of the two, Pipedreamer is preferred but it might be worth chancing STAYING ON at a tasty 14/1 with Totesport. Walter Swinburn's four-year-old is improving at a rate of knots judged on his near miss in the Huxley Stakes last time and his course record victory at Doncaster on his previous start. It's also worth noting that he won over this distance of 1m2f at Royal Ascot last season but, as that wasn't a group race, he escapes a penalty here. With 13 runners set to go to post, he's worth backing each-way
Earlier on the card, RAINE'S CROSS is fancied to end the winning run of Monsier Chevalier in the National Stakes (6.10) over 5f. His trainer Peter Winkworth must have known he had a classy two-year-old on his hands as Raine's Cross was backed as if defeat was out of the question on his debut at Bath (66/1 into 9/2). That race has since turned out to be a rich source of winners, and he might just have too much speed for Monsier Chevalier, who had to dig deep to win over this trip last time and might be ready for an extra furlong. I'm hoping for 7/2 in the morning.
In the Listed Heron Stakes (8.20), RACKETEER is crying out to be backed after his impressive course-and-distance victory last time. Considering that was only his third run, further improvement is very much on the cards and he gets a handy 5lb from his main rival Border Patrol.
Selections:
6.35: Raine's Cross (at 7/2 or bigger)
7.10: Paktai
7.45: Staying On (each-way)
8.20: Racketeer
