DERBY FAV, AND SANDOWN REVIEW

Hello


News this morning that JAN VERMEER is likely to be the pick of stable jockey Johnny Murtagh and out Ante Post selection (see post dated 17.05) is now as short as 5/2F generally with St Nicholas Abbey on the drift and probably going to either miss the race with France a likely alternative. 


Having backed it at 20's looking to trade a bit off at 5/2 or thereabouts, a good result already for us and the race still a week away.


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Last Thursday we attended the Sandown evening meeting which featured two group races and some decent supporting events too. 


Wasn't as busy as I expected for the quality of racing on offer, but we had a party of 6 so grabbed some tables and made a "home" for ourselves in the grandstand in good view of the winning line and close enough to the bar !! 
[beware, £4 a pint !! Bring more money next time]


The opening race was an open handicap, one that only attracted a bit of place interested on RESURGE (12/1 early, opened 7/1 backed to 11/2) and UNCLE FRED (22/1) who ended up taking the 2nd and 3rd places behind fav JO'BURG who cruised home easily at generous odds of 4/1 and foiled our gamble on the 2nd. 


The next race a listed contest over 5f down the middle track was expected to be a stroll for the Richard Hannon trained CAPE TO RIO but it was not to be as the support came for DINKUM DIAMOND who quickened away and won easy. Ruined my placepot in the process as well as many multiples too :O(


Racing improves again as we see the first of the two Group races here with the Group 2 Henry II stakes over 2miles seeing a few horses that had been at Ascot's last meeting that we also attended for the Sagaro Stakes. 


AKMAL turned this event into a one horse procession leading all the way and powering on again when challanged by SAPTAPADI. Anyone who had seen the winner struggle at Ascot would be wondering if it was the same horse. We were saved a bit by the place win on the runner up, but winners were avoiding us again today.


Another Group race followed the Group 3 Brigadier Gerard stakes over 1m 2f. Yet another strongly supported favourite getting turned over as GLASS HARMONIUM failed to get in a blow against the winner STOTSFOLD who only really had to worry about TAZEEZ. (another place win for us with that well supported horse). 


The fifth event went to the well fancied favourite FALLEN IDOL who just got up to win by the min margin from the outsider RECTIFIER, nothing else getting in much of a blow, the fav coming fast and late and helped us all pick up a decent wedge for the evenings work.


The finale was a race to gather up everything and make ready for our escape, the train back home leaving 10 mins after the last so the delay caused by ORATORY at the start was not welcomed. He was duly withdrawn and the race set up for a simply win for FLORA TREVELYAN who had been well backed all day long and won at 100/30 [+15p R4]


We'd been playing up the place markets on Betfair throughout the evening and going ok, put the balance on DUNN'O to place which he duly did staying on behind the winner to grab 3rd at 11/2 and paying 2.46 on BF (after the deduction for Oratory) was a nice result to go home on. 


Glad to say we made it for our train and home in good time for a decent evening all round. Next year we're looking to take in the Brighton meeting during the afternoon and make it back for the evening card again (it's do-able but only just). 


Update later for the Bank Holiday weekend.