Sandown Thursday Preview - 22/07/21

The first fancy of the day from Sandown comes in the Class 4 Tellisford Handicap over five furlongs and Libertine Belle for Stuart Williams should be in the mix if handling this trip.

The three year old filly has been in smart form for the most of this season placing three times from her five runs including winning nicely two starts ago at Goodwood.

She has been raced over six furlongs all her life but now is tried over 5f and with her clear pace angle she looks set to suit it.

Her mark of 74 looks to still be within her and getting back to a quicker surface will only enhance her chances.

Next up is the seven furlong Maiden Stakes and it sees some very interesting youngsters head to post, with Dukedom for John & Thady Gosden making the most appeal.

The two year old has been seen once to date and he finished a bright second over course a distance behind the very talented Sonny Liston for Charles Hills.

That sets the form heading into this race and having a superb pedigree of being out of a French 1000 Guineas second and a son of Dubawi, the yard will be expecting big things.

The third event of the afternoon sees the feature race of the day with the Listed Star Stakes for the Fillies over seven furlongs and it could be a special day for John Gosden as he fields the favourite Inspiral.

The Cheveley Park Stud owned juvenile is one of the most inexperienced horses in the field, but obviously holds bundles of ability off the back of her debut.

The daughter of Frankel on debut was seen landing a seven furlong event on good to firm at Newmarket in superb style, with the second and third in that race since going on to frank it.

She must improve stepping up into this sphere, but the trip and ground seems to be in her favour and she looks a very progressive type.

Having skipped the Stayers Handicap with no selection we move onto the Class 5 Handicap over seven furlongs and Old News for Linda Stubbs is the horse who takes the eye.

The four year old seems to be in fine fettle of late and gets an added bonus in his run for this race by going off the same mark as his superb second last time out.

This is the last event he will run off a mark of 73, going up to 75 next time out and that could be the difference for him in this event.

His second last time out when just being beaten in a photo-finish is some of the leading form in the race and the same handy 3lb claimer gets on board.

A horse on the upgrade.

The penultimate event of the afternoon is the Class 4 Handicap over 1m2f and Russian Virtue for the shrewd David Menuisier looks a very intriguing runner.

The four year old will be ridden by the inform William Buick, who has been his partner for the last two runs, where he has been at his best.

Two starts ago the gelding was seen finishing a close second behind the favourite Sweet Reward over course and distance and is now better off at the weights than last time.

He was stepped up to 1m4f last time out and maybe didn't stay aswell as the trainer thought he would so dropping back to his preferred trip should bring more improvement.

Mark of 77 is still workable.

The final runner of the afternoon for us comes in the Class 5 Fillies' Handicap and Mowaleda looks the value on handicap debut against the favourite.

The three year old is making her handicap/stable debut for Amanda Perrett having made eye-catching progress in her three runs for Brian Meehan.

She was last seen finishing a good third in a good Novice Stakes at Kempton behind a first and second that have high class pedigrees and have the potential of being black type winners.

Now starting her handicap life off a mark of 70, it looks extremely workable if improving again.