Sandown Friday Preview - 01/07/22

The first selection of the afternoon from Sandown comes in the Listed Dragon Stakes over 5f and with a host of talented youngsters heading to post with all different types of form lines, it makes it a tough betting heat.

The horse we have sided with is the George Scott trained Rocket Rodney who is a two year old on the up that looks the most likely winner in this field off the back of his Royal Ascot run.

Seen three times in his career to date, making his debut over 5f at Nottingham he was a good second behind a nice type for Richard Fahey, but then franked the form to get off the mark at the second time of asking at Goodwood, seeing off his closest rival by over four lengths.

Sent to Royal Ascot last time out in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes he took the highly promising Little Big Bear all the way to the line just going down by a head.

That sets the form standard for us.

The second race of the afternoon is another Listed event with the Coral Marathon over two miles seeing a competitive field go to post.

We are siding with a horse that did not go to Royal Ascot and might just end up being fresher than the field with the David Simcock trained Rodrigo Diaz.

A very smart horse over the years for David Simcock always looking like a stayer and recently has been mixing it in some very tough affairs.

Second to Group One winner Hukum on his second to last start last term, he then went into the Doncaster Cup in September and finished fourth of six behind the likes of Stradivarius.

Seen three times this term, starting over 1m6f at Meydan he was sixth of 15 in the Nad Al Sheba Trophy and then stepping into Group Two company up to two miles at the same track, he was below par in the Dubai Gold Cup.

Given some time after that he returned at Sandown in the G3 Henry II Stakes and was a close third behind the smart Quickthorn who has form with Trueshan.

Dropping down to Listed company, at a track he likes and arguably fresher than most the field, this could be his day.

The seven furlong Novice Stakes event could throw out some potentially nice types and we think at the top of that market will be Stormbuster for Andrew Balding.

Two year old son of Dubawi being a full brother to Group One winner Arabian Queen, and has been seen once to date when a goof third at Newbury over 6.5f.

He was behind the talented Isaac Shelby that day, that now looks set to go into Group company and if improving for the extra half a furlong he should go close against these inexperienced runners.

Another tricky event on the Friday card is the Class 3 Handicap over seven furlongs and at the top of the weights is the William Haggas trained Golden Voice who makes big appeal.

The three year old showed on his final start of last term that he had plenty of ability when a good second on soft ground at Redcar behind a nice type for Charlie Hills.

Breaking her duck in a Maiden at Newcastle on seasonal debut this term, she was then sent into Handicap company and off a mark of 79 was just beaten by a head when upped to a mile.

Unfortunately up 5lb for that run, he then went over course and distance and landed a very similar event to this off 84, being well backed on the day.

Now off a mark of 89, at a track he likes and getting similar conditions, he holds leading claims.

The penultimate race of the afternoon is the feature Listed Gala Stakes over 1m2f and we are hoping the veteran Addeybb will have too much class for this field, even at the age of eight.

A superstar yardstick for William Haggas over the years, landing numerous Group One events in Australia with the Queen Elizabeth and Ranvet Stakes and then in the UK took the British Champion Stakes at Ascot.

Not getting any younger he still holds big ability amazingly, which last season saw him finish second to St Mark's Basilica in the Group One Coral Eclipse, but then was only sixth in his British Champion Stakes title defence.

Back this year for another season the gelding made his seasonal debut over course and distance when a good third behind Bay Bridge and Mostahadaf, who have both since gone on to run well at Royal Ascot.

Addeybb was kept at home for the royal meeting and instead left fresh for this and now over a course and distance he knows well and has won at, his rating suggests he should still have too much for this field.

The final selection of the afternoon from us comes in the Class 4 Handicap over 1m6f and Happy for the Charlie and Mark Johnston team could have a part to play.

A four year old son of Galileo, having got off the mark on his final start of last term, he entered this season as a horse that could turn into a stayer.

Making his seasonal debut at Hamilton over 11f when a good third of 14, he then went to York over 1m4f and ran another decent race to finish a close up fifth of 18.

Upped again in trip to 1m6f on soft ground at Goodwood he ran a cracker to place in third behind a nice type for Gary Moore and then progressing again when last seen at Ayr, he was third once more behind some proven staying handicappers.

Off the same mark of 82 for this event dropping into a Class 4 event from Class 2, he looks to have a perfect opportunity to get off the mark.