No value in the favourite but winning distances provide an interesting bet
The Coral Eclipse is the racing highlight on Saturday at Sandown but unfortunately the race has cut up badly with only the 5 runners going to post.
Golden Horn is a red hot favourite at just 1/3 and those odds certainly look skinny against a very solid Group 1 horse in the shape of The Grey Gatsby at 7/2.
In last season’s Irish Champion Stakes he beat Australia who was around the same price as Golden Horn is here so shocks certainly do happen.
The Grey Gatsby isn’t the only worry for Golden Horn backers here, there is also the likelihood of a muddling gallop with no confirmed pace setter in the field. He seemed to stay the Derby trip well last time so wouldn’t particular want a dawdle over two furlongs less here.
Golden Horn looks a bit special and will probably win here but he can’t be backed at the current odds. There does look to be some great value in the race without opposing Golden Horn though and that is with the winning distances.
Generally in sprint finishes the winning distances are smaller than they would be off a strong gallop and the 6/4 on Golden Horn winning by 3.5 lengths or less looks extremely good value. He’d be some horse to win by more than that so a bigger threat to the bet is probably the horse being beaten not the horse winning the race by further.
Wade in with Waady in the Charge
There is Group 3 sprint action also on Sandown’s card and there remains uncertainty over the participation of Mecca’s Angel (3/1) who needs plenty of rain overnight to take his chance.
It would be a shame if he doesn’t turn up as he’s currently making the market for the other 3/1 joint favourite at the time of writing, Waady. He’d be in receipt of 6lbs from Mecca’s Angel and looks as though he can progress past the standard already shown by his rival.
The weight allowance given to 3yos in this race seems favourable considering 3 of the last 4 renewals of the race have been won by that age group. A remarkable stat considering the classic generation has only made up 11 of the 40 runners during that period.
Waady is unbeaten so far over 5f and goes particularly well here, he’s won all 3 of his starts over course and distance. His latest effort, when leaving the smart Profitable (rated 108) for dead reads very well and granted luck in running he should win this before going on to bigger and better things.
Don’t be surprised if this horse is one of the market leaders in next year’s Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.
This runner looks Cherry ripe for Distaff
The listed race for fillies at 3.10 over a mile often attracts a small field so it’s great to see 12 runners in the final declarations. Jellicle Ball sets the standard and is the highest rated horse in the field but the fact she was beaten last time out in a handicap off 103 suggests she isn’t much better than that mark.
If one of her rivals here can’t improve past that rating it will be a big disappointment. The most likely runner to do that is Black Cherry who won a handicap as easily as she liked last time out over course and distance.
Now that was only off a mark of 84 but the handicapper has put her up to 99 so she doesn’t have much to find with the top rated horse here. Last year she chased home the top class Fadhayyil and in the context of this race that form reads well and her handy racing style is well suited to this course.
Despite some strong form last year Black Cherry only broke her maiden tag this year and when she did so she beat Iconic by 4.5 lengths. Iconic was making her debut on that occasion and improved for the experience to land a decent maiden next time out.
She’s only been allotted a mark of 81 and the fact that connections are risking that mark here in a listed contest shows how highly thought of she is. She may not beat Black Cherry but she can certainly close the gap between the horses and a forecast on the pair may pay a handsome dividend.
Don’t forget that Betway will refund losing bets on selected races up to £25 if your horse finishes 2nd, beaten less than a length by the winner. Terms and conditions apply.
