Sandown Saturday Preview - 12/06/21

The first race of the day at the Esher track is the Class 3 Handicap over seven furlongs and the exciting Run To Freedom looks a nice bet on handicap debut.

The three year old has only been seen three times and all of his runs came last term as a juvenile, starting over 7f at Newbury when looking to learn from his first experience.

He did just this when running next time out and finishing a good second at Kempton over 7f and then he was last seen getting off the mark over the same course and distance.

The form of his win in December is superb, with the second Highland Avenue since winning three times including in Listed company, with the third and fifth also going on to win since.

He could turn out to be a special horse and looks very interesting on seasonal return.

The feature race of the day at Sandown on Saturday is the Listed Scurry Stakes over five furlongs and we can't look past the favourite Atalis Bay.

The Marco Botti trained colt has been a very consistent horse for the yard, landing a hat-trick as a juvenile last season over both 5/6f and on both turf and the all weather.

This term the son of Cable Bay has turned his form up a notch by winning well on seasonal debut at Nottingham on god to firm ground, with the third placed horse since going on to win.

Last time over 5f at York he stepped up to Listed company for the Westow Stakes and he finished a superb second behind the exciting Winter Power for Tim Easterby.

That looks by far the best form in the race and if improving again will be tough to beat.

The Class 2 Handicap over a mile looks a very hot contest and the horse that takes the eye is the Simon & Ed Crisford trained Latest Generation.

The three year old has been seen four times during his career finishing third on debut back in August over 7f at Sandown, finishing in behind the likes of One Ruler and Maximal.

He then got off the mark at Doncaster when stepped up to a mile in a decent Maiden Stakes, but when trying to mix it with the big boys in the Group Three Autumn Stakes at Newmarket he ran no race at all.

Back for his three year old campaign this term, the son of Frankel was thrown into a tough Conditions Stakes and although only beating one home he finished in behind the likes of Derby third Hurricane lane, smart rival Maximal and the exciting Tasman Bay.

He looks feasibly treated off a mark of 93 for his handicap debut and now in this sphere can shine.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon comes in the Class 3 Handicap over nine furlongs and King Of Cubs for Hughie Morrison is a horse going the right way.

The three year old showed ability on his first two runs on the all weather, but since being tried on turf this term he has really come into his own.

This season the son of Intello was beaten by a short head on debut over 8.5f at Nottingham on good to firm ground and then last time out over the same course and distance he got off the mark in taking style.

Stepping up for his handicap debut today off a mark of 85 looks to be on the borderline, but if progressing again is hard to dismiss.

The final event of the day in Esher is the 1m4f Class 4 Handicap and the improving Sulochana for Hughie Morrison again could bring him up a nice double.

The four year old filly has been a different animal this term winning both her events in taking style over staying trips and although running off a career high mark today, she has been very progressive.

She made her seasonal debut at Salisbury in a Class 6 Handicap over 1m6f and ran out an easy winner on good to firm ground.

The filly backed that run up last time out at Nottingham over the same trip winning by an even bigger margin and with that in mind she should take the 7lb hike in her stride.

Looks the one to beat on her hat-trick bid.