Listed race at Sandown

The listed race at Sandown is over 5 furlongs for 3yo´s at 15.55 CET and we expect Morawij (Roger Varian/ Ryan Moore) to be returned the winner. He was not beaten far when 6th in the Temple Stakes last time, which is easily the best form of offer here. This distance could be ideal for Sound of Guns (Ed Walker/ Luke Morris) and she looks next best. The handicaps here are also very tricky.

Ningara could have a squeak in the opener at 14.50, though trainer Andrew Balding must now look for a new jockey as David Probert is injured and will be out of action for several weeks. Balding also a chance in the mile handicap half an hour later with Roserrow (Jimmy Fortune), although this is a very open affair. There are quite a few CD specialists in the 5 furlongs handicap at 16.30, including Tagula Night (Dean Ivory/ Kieren Fallon) and Rocket Rob (Willie Musson/ Jamie Mackay), who finished 1-2 in a similar event here recently. If you can bet place only, look at top-weight Lupo d´Oro (John Best/ James Doyle) in this race: he has only won once from 22 starts, but has been placed 13 times! Khaled Abdullah has 2 runners in the 3yo handicap at 17.05, Pythagorean (Roger Charlton/ Doyle) and Defendant (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) both are improving types who won last time out, but Defendant carries the first colours and we think that he is the more likely winner.

The only jumps racing today is at Hexham, and our eye is caught by German-bred Solis (Dianne Sayer/ Ryan Mania) in the 3 mile handicap hurdle at 16.55. He was quite a smart handicapper in Germany in younger days, and was ridden by the trainer´s daughter when runner-up over this CD last time; now he is ridden by the jockey who partnered him to success on his previous race and we can hope that he can repeat that victory today.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Theodore Gericault - Stableford - Noble Gift
2. Race: Danchai - George Guru - Ashaadd
3. Race: Smoothtalkinrascal - Morawij - Sound Of Guns
4. Race: Lupo D`Oro - Monsieur Jamie - Rylee Mooch
5. Race: Pythagorean - Defendant - Beautiful View
6. Race: Al Guwair - Sadiq - Herod The Great
7. Race: Abundantly - Presto Volante - The Quarterjack