The ITV cameras move on to Sandown and Beverley on Saturday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns with his best bets across the cards.
2.25 Sandown - Midnight Mile @ 6/1
2.40 Beverley - Apollo One @ 3/1
3.00 Sandown - Gaassee @ 13/2
3.38 Sandown - Starlore @ 9/4
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
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The Atalanta Stakes (2.25) is the first of the Group races on Sandown’s card and it’s worth taking a chance on the drop to a mile working the oracle for the in-form filly Midnight Mile.
The Richard Fahey-trained three-year-old has put a poor run in the Ribblesdale at Royal Ascot behind her on her last two outings and she was impressive when running away with a fillies’ Listed event at York in July. She travelled powerfully over 1m21/2f on that occasion.
She again went through the race like a horse who might be suited by a greater test of speed at Haydock last time and there was no disgrace in being beaten three lengths behind the classy gelding Al Aasy. He was good enough to be placed in Group 1 company when in his heyday.
There won’t be anything of that quality in this line up against her own sex and her keen-going nature means she might even improve now she is dropped back in distance.
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The Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (2.40) is the feature at Beverley and it provides a good opportunity for Apollo One to get his reward for a string of good runs in handicap company.
Apollo One has made relentless progress this season and his last two runs have been his best.
He was beaten a length by Saint Lawrence when second in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot in June and put in an even better performance to finish second in the Stewards’ Cup last month.
He was racing off a mark 3lb higher than at Ascot on that occasion and showed lots of speed to lead the stands’ side home only to lose out behind Aberama Gold, who raced in the centre.
Goodwood is a downhill 6f and Apollo One had no problem keeping up in that 27-runner contest. That tells me he has the speed to cope with a drop to 5f at this stiff track and he acts on any ground.
It will take a smart one to beat him if he turns up in his usual consistent form.
The 1m2f handicap (3.00) at Sandown is one of the most competitive races of the day and maybe a drop back in trip will be the making of Gaassee as he has raced too keenly over further recently.
He powered through the race over 1m4f at Haydock in July, but still finished only a length and a quarter behind the winner Wootton'Sun and he has dropped back to the same mark
Gaassee again travelled best when sent off 11/8 favourite at Ascot last time, but he went for home early and was paddling in the closing stages. He shaped like he wanted a drop in trip.
He won two novice events over this 1m2f early in his career and there is every chance he can bounce back to form now that he is faced with a sharper test for William Haggas and Tom Marquand, who has been riding at the top of his game recently and is chasing 1,000 winners.
The Solario Stakes (3.38) is the feature at Sandown and the most exciting runner in the field is Starlore, who is strongly fancied to give trainer Sir Michael Stoute a first win in the race.
Ryan Moore partnered Starlore to his debut victory over course and distance in July and the form has worked out well.
The third, Arabian Crown, has since gone on to score in Listed company and fifth-placed Devil’s Point was an easy winner at Ffos Las on his next outing.
Devil’s Point is back to renew rivalry, but Starlore did lots wrong on his debut and was still green. It didn’t stop him from keeping on to win and he can confirm the form with that rival.
He was Stoute’s first - and so far only - juvenile winner of the season that day, so probably wasn’t anywhere near fully wound up, and there should be lots of improvement forthcoming.
2.25 Sandown - Midnight Mile @ 6/1
2.40 Beverley - Apollo One @ 3/1
3.00 Sandown - Gaassee @ 13/2
3.38 Sandown - Starlore @ 9/4
Odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and subject to fluctuation.
View the latest Horse Racing Odds
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