After I saw the money coming in for Wheresmemoneygone, I did think there was a strong chance of landing both selections, but it wasn't meant to be.
Wheresmemoneygone was backed into 10/11F (there was a 35p rule 4), and he ran like the money suggested. They were very positive on him, and he pinged every fence, winning by around 20 lengths. It was an impressive stable debut. He will likely be out quite quickly to race with a penalty, which will be smaller than the hike in the weights he'll receive from the handicapper.
La Cadalora had no excuses at Haydock. She was positioned perfectly by Buick, but she didn't want to go past the leader after battling with that horse for multiple furlongs.
Kassaya 11/4 (1pt) – Sandown 3.35
On recent form, Pearl Of Windsor is the one to beat. That horse was fourth in a Listed race at Sandown, running a big race in defeat. When horses overperform in races like that, it's easy to believe they'll do it in an ‘easier' race, but I'm not getting drawn in.
Kassaya was the interesting runner in this race, and I'm hoping that she is going to be race fit after not being on the track for 380 days. Andrew Balding claimed that she had a setback and that is the reason why she has been off the track since. The way his yard has been firing in the winners, there's a strong chance she'll be ready first time out.
Andrew also said that this is a filly they've always been very keen on. She has tonnes of ability, and her last run at Royal Ascot 2024 wasn't a true showing. She didn't get any daylight in that race in the big field, and never came off the bridle. Off a mark of 88 on her handicap debut, she could be miles ahead of the handicapper, and I'm more than happy to take a chance.
Windlord 9/4 (1pt) – Sandown 4.10
I am writing this before seeing the odds, but from looking at the field, I think Windlord will be fairly short in the market.
This looks like a poor race, and full of horses who haven't delivered as much as they promised. Cash and Checkandchallenge were both regarded highly by their trainers, and even a lot of the racing public. They've not gone on to achieve what we expected after they made good starts to their careers.
The other three in the race aren't the best, and I think that's why I thought Windlord was going to be a tough nut to crack. It is often a hard task for the younger horses when they take on the older horses, but receiving weight all around makes this an easier task.
Windlord has some good form from both his juvenile season and this year. He was third in a Group 2 at the Curragh last year, and this year he ran well over today's C&D, where he finished second. The third horse hasn't franked the form since, but the fourth was a very valiant fourth in the Irish Derby last weekend. His two runs over the mile in the Guineas and at Royal Ascot didn't suit, but the step back up to 10f will be better for him. On both of those occasions, he was used as the pacemaker for Field Of Gold, so you can't read too much into it, and it's best to focus on his runs before.
GambleAware