Racing Live - Sandown 30th May 2008
21:05 That’s it from a still damp Sandown although it is more drizzle than pouring down. I just hope the M25 is in a kinder mood going home.
21:00 I have a feeling that if I described the final event as being a race the editor of the Oxford English Dictionary would soon be on the phone to correct me. Bushman was sent off the well backed favourite and to say he hacked up would be an understatement and an injustice. It was one of the easiest, bloodless victories I have seen in a long while. Handily placed most of the way Richard Mullen hit the lead in the home straight increasing the margin on his rivals with every stride. The more exciting race was for second with Little White Lie just getting the better of Zero Cool. 20:30 Now I don’t mind my theory on front runners being proved wrong on occasion but twice at the same meeting is getting a tad too much. Although in my defence I would say front running tactics are more inclined to pay off on the flat. This time the pillar to post winner was Redolent, trained by Richard Hannon and ridden by Ryan Moore. Leading from the stalls he made his intentions clear, soon having the field running in Indian file. Inside the distance it seemed as though he would face serious challenges from both the joint favourites Iguazu Falls and Virtual but the further they went the better the winner ran. Apart from a single all weather win Godolphin’s Iguazu Falls has not shown his full potential and continues to disappoint. Another disappointment was Khateeb but I would put his poor show down to the soft going – either that or I am going soft myself.
20:00 Another big race and another exciting finish. A race decided in the final furlong where it looked as though the favourite Pipedreamer, who was stone last turning out of the back straight, was going to grab the race on the line but it wasn’t to be and he only managed first. The two that thwarted the favourite were Maraahel from the Stoute yard under Richard Hills and the Lincoln winner Smokey Oakey, trained by Mark Tompkins and ridden by Jimmy Quinn. In the end it was the Lincoln winner who prevailed. The colt was sent off at 20/1 mainly on the back of a poor performance when upped to Group company last time out and where he looked to be outclassed. Today, on softer ground, he seemed a great deal happier and he battled very hard for the win. Star spotters who were hoping joint owner Dame Judi Dench would be here but they were disappointed. Disappointment of the race was the Henry Cecil trained filly Passage Of Time who looked good in the paddock but finished a well tailed off second last. 19:25 Strange isn’t it, you have a five furlong sprint where the runners are relatively well spread out. Yet the next race is over an extended two miles and you could throw a tea towel over the first three home. This was also another race where my theory on front runners was shot down in flames. Frankie Dettori set the pace on Finalmente and despite the very close finish was never headed. Peppertree Lane who normally likes to make the running tracked the leader for the first mile but then seemed unhappy at being headed. Two furlongs out Frankie was still in the lead but his lead was being closed down by Balkan Knight under Jamie Spencer who looked as though he would have won in a couple more strides. Even more impressive at the finish was the favourite Royal And Regal who was running on well and definitely would have won had the race been 10 yards longer. So a thrilling finish to the Henry I Stakes, one of three big races this evening at Sandown. If you are interested it is still raining and next up we have the race most are looking forward to, The Brigadier Gerard Stakes. 18:50 At least I managed to see the second race on this Betfair sponsored card, the 5 furlong listed National Stakes. Finjaan who really impressed at Newmarket on 2000 Guineas day was sent off the well backed 2/1 favourite. As at Newmarket he was held up for a late run only this time it did not work. My suspicion is that the ground, more than anything else, that beat him tonight and he is sure to win again. Calypso Girl made the pace, tracked by Icesolator who Richard Hughes had tucked in on the rail. Two furlongs out Icesolator made his move, which turned out to be decisive as he never looked to be in any real danger. Showing he could translate his Goodwood form to Sandown.
18:20 Good evening from a wet Sandown. No report on the first race I am afraid - having just spent two and a half hours on the M2 travelling at 8 mph I missed it. Suffice to say it was won by the odds on favourite Punjabi. 15:00 A few more non-runners - I hope we don't lose too many more. The 6:40 is now a seven runner race, bad news for each way backers. 13:00 Another non-runner aded. It looks to be an interesting card tonight, arguably the best quality evening card of the season. Our tips for tonight are as follows:- 6:10 Punjabi 10:10 We have seven non-runners so far, details on the right. The most significant being in the 8:20 which is now down to seven runners, so only each way on the first two now. |
Results6:10 1st 6 Punjabi 10/11 fav 6:40 7:15 1st 5 Finalmente 16/1 7:45 1st 13 Smokey Oakey 20/1 8:20 1st 7 redolent 11/2 8:50
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