Sandown and Wolverhampton

There is flat racing this afternoon at Sandown and Wolverhampton (all-weather) and easily the best race is the Group Three Gordon Richards Stakes over 10 furlongs at 14.50 at Sandown. Sir Michael Stoute´s Ask (Ryan Moore) is the class act here, having been beaten by only a nose in the Canadian International last time out. However today´s trip seems on the short side, and some of Stoute´s runners have seemed to need their first race of the season, so some caution is advised. Ask holds Hattan (Clive Brittain/ Seb Sanders) on 2007 form, but the latter, who recently won the Lingfield Winter Derby, is racing over his ideal trip and could be a big danger, while Championship Point (Mick Channon/ Darryll Holland), also a recent winner, is another threat. John Gosden´ s Charm School (Jimmy Fortune) created a very favourable impression when winning a minor event at Doncaster last month and can take the mile race for 3yo´s at 16.00, while the 10 furlongs handicap for the same age group should go to Mark Johnston´s Captain Webb (Joe Fanning), who has won all his 3 starts in fine style and looks much better than this grade. Most interesting race at Wolverhampton is the 7 furlongs event for 3yo maidens at 15.15. Skadrak (Brian Meehan/ Robert Winston) started favourite and was beaten a short head at Ascot´s July meeting on his only outing so far, but faces some decent opposition today, notably Slugger O´Toole (Barry Hills/ Chris Catlin) and August Sale (Mark Johnston/ Royston Ffrench), while James Dean and Opera Prince were bith last-time-out runners-up and seem certain to win before long.