Sandown Friday Preview - 26/04/19

The first race of the day sees the bet365 Esher Cup Handicap and in this field of 11 runners we have gone for the Andrew Balding trained Fox Leicester.

This three year old owned by King Power Racing has a create chance to get the first win on the card after confirming his two year old promise by winning on his seasonal debut and looks good form heading into this.

He landed a Class 4 at Chelmsford beating some smart horses and although he is in a tougher race going up in class he holds plenty of potential.

The second race of the day is the first Group contest of the meeting and in the Gordon Richard Stakes we have gone for the classy Crystal Ocean.

This horse is set to go off at odds on and that is justified from his performances last year like when a narrow second to stablemate Poet's Word in the King George VI and Elizabeth Stakes.

He was also second to the mighty Enable at Kempton on the all weather and finished the season in behind the superb retired Cracksman in the British Champion Stakes.

It would be a huge shock if he is beat and he won this race last year fairly comfortably and we are hoping he can do the same come Friday.

The next contest of the day sees another Group 3 in the bet365 Classic Trial over 1 mile 2 furlongs and we have gone for the John Gosden trained Alfaatik.

The British trainer has got two in this race but we think we have picked the best one but this handler has won this race three times in the last five years and has a great chance again.

This youngster did everything wrong really on debut, running green, idling when getting to the front but still holding on to score first time out.

The win came on the all weather so he is unproven on turf but being out of Sea The Stars and bought for 850,000 gns he surely has a lot more to give and is worth a chance in this one.

The next race of the day is the feature in the Group 2 bet365 Mile and in this contest we have gone for another of Andrew Balding's recruits in Beat The Bank.

This experienced five year old has bags of potential but will need to find his previous form again if to have a strong chance of winning this race after some weak performances recently but in better races than this.

He has won four Group races in his career with the last of them coming last season at Glorious Goodwood in the Celebration Mile Stakes which was a sharp race.

The fifth race on the card is the bet365 Handicap over five furlongs and in this we have gone for the Hamdan Al Maktoum owned Mutawaffer.

This Charles Hills trained three year old has been hit and miss in his short career but when being on song is dangerous and not for catching on his day.

On his only run over course and distance he finished a good second showing he handles the track and before that won nicely at Goodwood showing what he can do and if repeating this form has a great chance.

The penultimate race of the day at Sandown comes in the Class 4 Fillies Novice Stakes over 1 mile 2 furlongs and we have gone for the top weighted Sparkle Roll.

This John Gosden trained runner has only raced twice in her career finishing a fair fifth on debut showing a lot of potential and then on her last performance getting off the mark nicely at Haydock, hence the penalty she carries.

This smart filly is a half sister to Epsom Derby winner Wings Of Eagles and also carries an Oaks entry so this could be a nice stepping stone for that race.

The final race of day one at the Esher track sees the Class 3 handicap and we have gone with the Richard Hannon trained Big Baby Bull.

This colt was a very progressive two year old who in his five runs has won twice and finished a good second showing he holds bags of potential.

In his last run of the season he beat some nice up and coming horses in a Class 3 Nursery contest at Doncaster and if coming on from that run he is a huge player in this race.