Sandown and Musselburgh

Sandown and Musselburgh, who raced yesterday, both continue with their Easter programme today. Sandown, where all 6 races on the card are restricted to 3yo´s, has easily the best sport on offer, headed by the Group 3 bet365 Classic Trial over 10 furlongs at 16.50 CET. This looks quite open with almost all the 10 runners in with a chance. Dordogne (Mark Johnston/ Frankie Dettori) ran on with great determination when scoring at Newmarket over 9 furlongs, but we would not be surprised to see Specific Gravity (Henry Cecil/ Tom Queally), a close 4th then, reverse the form over an extra furlong. Richard Hannon´s 2 runners Auld Burns (Jamie Spencer) and Measuring Time(Richard Hughes) were first and second in a valuable sales race, also at the Craven meeting, and there should be little between them today. Aidan O´Brien sends over Jackaroo (Ryan Moore), though we cannot imagine that he is one of the stable´s main Derby hopes, and the same applies to Godolphin´ s Genius Beast (Mahmood al Zarooni/ Ahmed Ajtebi). However runners from these powerful stables can never be discounted. This is definitely a race to watch but not to bet on.

A better betting race is the Esher Cup, a mile handicap at 16.20, which is normally won by a decent performer. John Gosden has won this for the last two years and has good prospects with top-weight Trasury Devil (William Buick), owned by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, who finished last in a French Group One last time on very soft ground, but is expected to be much better suited by the faster going today. Tazahum (Sir Michael Stoute/ Richard Hills), runner-up to the useful Dubawi Gold at Ascot last October, and John Biscuit (Andrew Balding/ Jimmy Fortune) look the main dangers. We certainly expect the last-named to reverse all-weather form with Indian Jack (Alan Bailey/ Luke Morris), who has won his last 3 races. With Henry Cecil now in such good form, we also hope to see Gestüt Ammerland´s Nordic Spruce win the mile race at 15.45.

The best race at Musselburgh is the 7 furlongs handicap at 17.10. Richard Fahey is another trainer in great form, and his stable jockey Paul Hanagan partners Mo Mhuirnin here, while Newmarket challenger Soorah (William Haggas/ Joe Fanning) has been off since September, but has a chance on 2010 form. However our selection is 9yo Malcheek (Tim Easterby/ David Allan) - out of a Surumu mare- who has been in great form on the all-weather (4th in a listed race last time) but is also effective on turf.