Alaskan Bear proved why he should have been an odds-on shot.
It took a while for a response, but when he hit top gear, he motored clear. SP of 4/6 should've been the price he was at to begin with, not 15/8. 10p Rule 4.
James Doyle isn't everyone's cup of tea, especially since acquiring the Wathnan job, but I thought he was brilliant on Le Samourai. The horse didn't break the best, but he kept him out wide and brought him to the front when the time was right. Credit goes to the horse, who was very game when pressed two to three furlongs from home, as he kept finding. SP of 9/2…what a crazy drift.
I said Tudhope isn't good for me, and he cemented that with the ride on Ceinture d'Orion. He planted the handbrake with just over a furlong to travel when the horse was in with a cracking chance. Very dodgy ride, with no repercussions.
Bill The Bull 5/1 (1pt) – Sandown 2.25
This would usually be a race I'd avoid, but looking at the prices, I want to get involved with Bill The Bull.
There are pieces of Royal Ascot form floating around in this race, and they have to be respected. However, Bill The Bull could be very dangerous in this race from stall 2. This horse has a lot of pace, so the stiff finish at Sandown probably isn't his ideal conditions. However, he did run well in a Listed race here on his penultimate start, so he might be able to get away with it.
If Pat Cosgrave can get him to conserve a bit of energy for the final furlong, he could be good enough to fend them off. I know that this is a horse that Adam Kirby really likes, and Pat Cosgrave was very complimentary of him when he won at Bath.
Marnier 11/4 (1pt) – Sandown 4.42
Carrying 10st 1lb will mean this won't be an easy task for Marnier, but it's definitely a winnable race.
Marnier's pedigree is a very good one; he is related to Crepe Suzette, who runs in the same colours and is trained by the Gosdens. Pierre Bonnard is also a Class 1 performer in the pedigree, so there is class and stamina in the family.
I just hope that Marnier doesn't have the same characteristics as Crepe Suzette, who always seems to find one or two too good for her. Based on what we've seen from this horse, it could be likely, but he's still lightly raced.
Looking at his form, he has to be the pick at the prices for this race. I liked the run at this course last time out, when finishing third behind 50/1 Squire Danagher. Obviously, losing to a big outsider raises questions about the form, but the runner-up has been solid this year. Also, Marnier didn't get the best of passages in that race, so his run has to be marked up.
GambleAware