Selections for Saturday 6th of July 2024
1.50 Sandown
1 point each way Equality (10/1 Bet365/ William Hill, 3 places)
Equality looks a shade overpriced at 10/1 to repeat his victory in the Group 3 Coral Charge. He is drawn in stall 3 this year having won from stall 4 last season. It is an advantage to be drawn low at Sandown and he is beside the improving Desperate Hero who is in stall 4. Any rain that falls between now and the off won’t hinder Equality and back on a track he likes with conditions in his favour he could easily outrun his odds. Billy Loughnane is onboard and riding with confidence at the moment.
2.25 Sandown
1 point each way Metal Merchant (5/1 Skybet, 4 places or else 6/1 William Hill, 3 places)
Metal Merchant won on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury off a mark of 91 on good to soft ground. He couldn’t manage to back that up a month later at the same venue when finishing second to the talented Sonny Liston. The handicapper nudged him up a further 1 lb for that effort to a mark of 97. He finished seventh of twenty nine at Ascot in the Hunt Cup on his latest run but had a disadvantage draw that day and ran better than the result may suggest. Today should suit him well and conditions are in his favour. He is a tough horse who takes his racing well so I wouldn’t be concerned on that front.
2.05 Haydock
1 point each way Dramatic Star (7/2 Generally, 4 places)
Trainer William Haggas has won three of the last four renewals of this race so the first horse to take note of is his handicap debutant Dramatic Star. She finished third and second on her first two starts over 1m 2fs. She was stepped up to 1m 3f on her third start and won at prohibited odds by 2 lengths eased down at Hamilton. The handicapper has given her a mark of 87 but on pedigree this step up to 1m 6f should be exactly what she needs. Her dam Dramatic Queen was a Group 3 winner over 1m 6f.
3.15 Haydock
1 point each way Sheer Rocks (11/1 Skybet, 6 places or else 12/1 Generally, 5 places)
Epic Poet has been well found in the market and will benefit from the expected rain but we will take a punt on Sheer Rock bouncing back to form after a satisfactory run in the Duke of Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot when finishing tenth of nineteen. That was his first run of the season and he is entitled to be sharper this time. He went off 6/1 in this race last season off a 2 lbs higher mark when finishing fifth. This looks to be his first main target of the season and he is well drawn in stall 2.
**Date & Time of next Selections Wednesday 10th of July at 9pm..