We’re off to Sandown for the Coral Eclipse Day, and we have three good rides on the card. Starting off in the Coral charge with Apollo One for Charalambous and Clutterbuck. He’s been running very consistent handicaps and very competitive handicaps, off a rating of 102. The jump from handicaps to group level is not a massive one, so I’m hoping that his consistent form in top handicaps will just see him jump in the group level and run a strong race. Hopefully he can be a place chance, Live In The Dream certainly looks to be the one to beat if he’s back to his best.
We then ride Dual Identity in the Mile Handicap. I was a really good winner on him two starts back with course and distance being over a mile. The last start was a little bit unlucky in the run. He hit the line very strong and it again was another big run over a mile. I’m hoping with a good draw that he’s got a good chance. There is rain forecast. If it rains, it won’t really matter to him, Dual Identity goes on any ground. So, I’m hoping he can get back on track and hit the winners circle again.
And then in the Coral Distaff Listed Race we have Bolsena for Kevin Ryan. A very good Philly this. She was a winner three starts back at Newmarket and has been running very well in listed company since. Not many runners, but it’s quite a competitive, strong open field, but she’s more than capable and she deserves her place in the field.
Looking further ahead on the card, we got the coral eclipse and City of Troy is looking to back up his Derby win over a mile and a half and I think he looks the one to beat off a rating of 124. There’s nothing else in the field that gets within 10 LB of him. I think it’s City of Troy’s race to lose.
From the outsiders I think Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa is very good, very consistent. That top level, he can get back on track and could run a place. But it does look like City of Troy’s Race to lose.
