Yesterday’s Review
0.75pt e/way Pixie Diva (108) – One wouldn’t think that a draw in stall 7 would prove too disadvantageous with the front-runner in stall 10, but with the stalls split into two, there was enough of a gap for it to be a hindrance for the selection. The first four home were drawn in stalls 10, 11, 13 and 14 and Ryan Moore’s mount was away from the action in the middle of the track. She finished in eighth place beaten just over 3 lengths and it would be best to put a line through this race.
1pt win Dosman (103) – The selection was hampered at a crucial part of the race when trying to make headway over a furlong from home and he will be worth another chance going forward. He eventually came home in fifth place beaten 6 lengths.
1pt win Saytarr (107) – A solid enough effort from the selection who managed to finish in third place beaten just 2 lengths. He raced from the rear and looked like he might win when leading over a furlong from home before weakening near the finish. Perhaps the handicapper has him now on turf at least.
Today’s Advice
SANDSCREENDELIVERED (5f Hcap) – This four-year-old stumbled at the start when selected by this blog last May at Lingfield behind Solar Edge but has improved since then. He broke his maiden over 5f when racing prominently at the same venue while recording a (106) timefigure back in August finishing a neck ahead of Smooth Silesie. A fourth place finish on seasonal debut behind Thecoffeepoddotco yielded a similar timefigure as he was drawn wide and raced from the rear. It was his latest effort over 6f on the polytrack at Lingfield that indicated he might be better than a Class 5 performer. Drawn wide once again he raced prominently and having led inside the final furlong was just headed in the final strides. The (112) timefigure reads very well and although the race has yet to yield a winner the fourth place finisher Lequinto has gone close on a couple of occasions.
The handicapper has put him up 2lb for today’s (3.20) Goodwood but the drop back to five furlongs should suit and if he can build on his latest performance he might be nicely handicapped going forward.
BOW ECHO/THESECRETADVERSARY (8f Group 1) – The 2000 Guineas picture has been unclear for a while now but trainer Aidan O’Brien has committed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Gstaad for today’s (3.35) Newmarket with stable jockey Ryan Moore booked to ride. The three-year-old colt won nicely by just under a length on the turf at Del Mar over the mile from a wide draw while recording a (110) timefigure. His trainer’s record first time out in this contest has not been very strong in recent year’s with disappointing performances in the big race from Ten Sovereigns (2019), Van Gogh, Wembley and Battleground (2021), Little Big Bear and Auguste Rodin (2023), City Of Troy (2024) and Expanded (2025) all failing to even place. At the current prices I can let the favourite win.
The former selection is unbeaten in three races and his (111) timefigure when coming home a length clear of Humidity in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes over course and distance looks very solid in the context of today’s field. He raced in midfield on that occasion and made steady headway over two furlongs from home before leading a furlong out and keeping on well to the line. It looks one of the strongest pieces of form on the clock on offer and any improvement this season should see him go close today.
The latter selection’s participation in this race had been undecided for a while as he has been entered in plenty of other races. However, his (112) timefigure on seasonal debut at Leopardstown over 7f was mighty impressive as he came home 2.5 lengths clear of Power Blue in the Group 3 Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks Stakes. He raced prominently that day and having led inside the final furlong quickened up nicely to put the race to bed. He looked very unlucky in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at Woodbine last season when practically coming to a stop when trying to make headway at the business end of the race due to interference but still managed a valiant fifth place. A reproduction of either of those performances would make his price in the market look a bit too long.
SOVEREIGN SPELL (6f Hcap) – This three-year-old has returned this season with a real spring in his step following two victories, one at Wolverhampton and another over course and distance last time out. He raced prominently on his latest start and having taken up the running two furlongs from home found another gear when challenged by Advertised. The (112) timefigure looks the best of today’s (4.10) Newmarket field, and although the runner-up is 2lb better off at the weights, I prefer the winner to finish ahead at the line once again. The handicapper has put him up 6lb since but he still looks well treated from his current mark based on his latest performance on the clock.
0.5pt e/way Sandscreendelivered (15/2 Ladbrokes, Coral, Unibet, Betfred) 3.20 Goodwood
1pt win Bow Echo (4/1 William Hill, Ladbrokes, Coral) 3.35 Newmarket
1pt win Thesecretadversary (22/1 general) 3.35 Newmarket
1pt win Sovereign Spell (4/1 Unibet, 10/3 general) 4.10 Newmarket