ITV Sunday Preview - 13/09/20

ITV start off at Chelmsford on Sunday with the small fielded Class 2 Handicap over a mile and we have sided with the five year old Vale Of Kent.

The Mark Johnston trained gelding although not posting the best results in big fielded handicaps, has still ran credibly, especially off a very high mark.

He has now been given a chance by the handicapper being dropped down to 101 and the last time he was on that mark he finished second in the Golden Mile at Glorious Goodwood with had 20 runners involved that day.

He needs to refind his form but won't get a better chance to get back to winning ways.

The first race of the day form The Curragh is the Group Two Blandford Stakes for Fillies and Mares and Jessica Harrington fields some strong runners in this event.

The one we like the look of is the bigger price of the two at the top of the market with Cayenne Pepper hoping to finally get her head in front this season.

The three year old finished second on seasonal debut behind Magical in the Pretty Polly Stakes and she backed that up with another close second in the Irish Oaks.

She was sent to Cork last time out for a Group Three contest and again she could only finish second but she has been knocking on the door long enough now and we think it is time she got off the mark.

Another Class 2 Handicap comes next, this time over six furlongs and Raucous was impressive on his seasonal debut last time out and we are taking a chance that he will improve from that run here.

The seven year old was highly consistent last year, winning twice at Yarmouth and on his final start last term at Newmarket in a decent Listed event.

On his seasonal return at Newmarket he finished fourth in a hot Listed event, leading until the last few strides where he seemed to tire.

That was his first run for 11 months and he is sure to be much fitter here.

The first black type event of the day at The Curragh on Sunday is the five furlong Flying Five Stakes and English raider Glass Slippers has a huge chance at a nice price.

The Kevin Ryan trained filly has some stand out form throughout her career and if recapturing it should not be beat in this event.

Having won the Group One Prix de l'Abbaye last season, she finished fifth at Royal Ascot in the King's Stands Stakes and improved for that run last time out when a good second behind Battaash.

She will be getting her softish conditions and looking fresher than most the field she looks to have a live chance.

The final race on the ITV show from Chelmsford comes over seven furlongs and in the betfred.com handicap we like the look of Sanaadh.

The seven year old gelding looks a big price to us and can definitely pick up some nice each way money if running to the same standard as his last run.

The Michael Wigham trained runner has been off since February, but when last seen landed a nice Class 2 Handicap at Newcastle over this trip and if being fresh could be interesting again.

The Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes over seven furlongs sees the best of the Irish Fillies go to post and there looks to be no better over this trip than Pretty Gorgeous.

The Joseph O'Brien trained juvenile has had three starts to date and has shown serious ability on all of them, getting off the mark at the first time of asking at Bellewstown.

She then went to Leopardstown and finished a close second behind Shale for Donnacha O'Brien in a Group Three contest.

However, she came on for that performance when pulling away from a decent field including Shale, to land a Group Two over course and distance at The Curragh and that is the best form heading into the event.

The feature race for the juveniles on the Sunday of Irish Champions Weekend is the Group One Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes over seven furlongs and superb field of Irish and English challengers are set to head to post.

Battleground for Aidan O'Brien has not really put a foot wrong during his career, finishing fifth on debut where he learnt a lot for the experience.

Since then he has gone unbeaten in two smart races, taking the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot and then landing the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood.

The son of War Front is following the same path as superstar juvenile Pinatubo who similarly landed both those races on the way to taking this Group One and he looks to have a stand out chance.

The final selection from us on Sunday at The Curragh is the Group One Irish St Leger and if running to his form this season Twilight Payment should take some beating.

The Joseph O'Brien trained stayer is seeking a hat-trick having took out the Group Three Vintage Crop Stakes and the Group Two Curragh Cup over course and distance.

Although he was only seventh in the race last year, he seems to be in the prime of his career this term and will take all the beating being versatile on ground.