TIGERS Tale can exploit his considerably lower turf rating than on the all-weather when he vies for top honours in the Ryman Stationer Handicap at Sandown this evening.
Roger Teal has done a fine job with this six-year-old gelding, who is more renowned for his exploits on an artificial surface.
Yet despite being rated some 12lb inferior on the turf, he is certainly no slouch in that department and enjoys competing at Sandown.
Tigers Tale contested hot enough races in Esher earlier this summer but was not beaten too far at all – most notably in a one-mile handicap in May, when he went down to Jacob Black by just half-a-length.
The son of Tiger Hill similarly emerged from a class two handicap at Salisbury with credit as he succumbed to Lightning Spear, who demonstrated at Ascot on Saturday that he is capable of winning Group races, by under three lengths.
Teal’s runner is at his best on turf when the ground is fast, so there would seem no issues on that front, while this does not look as stiff a test compared to recent times.
Pulses at Catterick can quick slightly if Perardua does what is expected of her in the St Teresa’s Hospice Handicap.
Trained by the bang-in-form Richard Fahey, there is almost certainly more to come from this daughter of Cockney Rebel, who looked mightily useful when victorious at Ripon last summer.
Things have not gone her way since then, but she remains just 4lb higher than when she claimed a three-and-a-half-length triumph at the North Yorkshire circuit.
Perardua warmed up for this race with a pleasing effort in a six-furlong handicap at Catterick on July 8, when third behind Alaskan Wing.
Fahey’s filly was hamstrung by trying to go toe-to-toe with the winner from the outset, so that run deserves to be upgraded a little.
It also seemed apparent that five furlongs is much more her bag, so this encounter should see her in a better light.
Statsminister proved her stamina for two miles at Pontefract in June and can kick on in the Avensys Handicap at Lingfield.
Luke Dace’s four-year-old filly made most of the running in Yorkshire before eventually finishing third behind Tuscan Gold.
That was nonetheless still a pretty good effort in a fair race, particularly as it was her first try over marathon distances.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
Nap: Tigers Tale
(7.40: Sandown)
Double: Perardua
(3.00: Catterick)
Treble: Statsminster
(3.40: Lingfield)
Yankee: Set List
(3.50: Uttoxeter)
