TRYSTER can light up Sandown on what is unquestionably the best evening of racing in Britain staged during the season.
The Charlie Appleby-trained four-year-old faces the acid test of his capabilities in the Cantor Fitzgerald Research Brigadier Gerard Stakes and is fully expected to pass with flying colours. His followers are banking on him translating his all-weather form to turf, but such has been his progression on Polytrack it is logical to believe he can do just that.
Starting from a mark of 87 in a Chelmsford handicap in January, the Shamardal gelding has rattled off five straight wins – and looked particularly smart in the Winter Derby and on All-Weather Championships Finals Day. Ridden with maximum confidence on both those occasions, the turn of foot he demonstrated when quickening from last to first marked him down as a high-class animal for any surface.
A favourable weather forecast suggests the Esher terrain will ride quick and that should suit perfectly.
The Cantor Fitzgerald Corporate Finance Heron Stakes is a fascinating affair, with preference for the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Consort. He has been on a racetrack just the once, when winning a maiden on the Rowley Mile back in September that worked out extremely well - subsequent UAE Derby winner Mubtaahij was only fifth.
Making all in the hands of Ryan Moore, the Lope De Vega colt was firmly in command the finish. Considered a genuine Guineas/Derby prospect heading into this season, a setback held him up and scuppered those plans, but Royal Ascot beckons if all goes to plan from here.
It takes a brave man to oppose Richard Hannon in the Cantor Fitzgerald Debt Capital Markets National Stakes but there are reasons for doing just that with Areen from the Kevin Ryan yard. Ryan well knows how to handle a speedy two-year-old and the vibes for this one were very good in the wake of his debut success from the useful dual winner Ravenhoe at York.
Asked to quicken by Jamie Spencer, he did so takingly when the penny dropped for a horse with no prior racecourse experience and stayed on strongly for a length and a half success. He was green enough in the early stages to lend strong weight to the theory he can only improve for the outing.
Staying is the name of the game in the Cantor Fitzgerald Investment Trusts Henry II Stakes, where Vent De Force appeals as a possible value option. Upwardly mobile as a three-year-old, the Hughie Morrison-trained colt ran a blinder when staying on well from the rear to find only Gold Cup hope Mizzou too good at Ascot last month.
At Haydock, there is plenty to like about the chance of Signore Piccolo in the Racing UK Anywhere Handicap. The four-year-old has made a good start to life with David O’Meara and there are races in him off his current mark, as he showed when just failing at Pontefract last time out.
The tremendously consistent Skidby Mill should run another good Lingfield race in the PMW Communications Handicap, while Ballykan looks another for Nigel Twiston-Davies in the Life & Style Novices’ Hurdle at Wetherby.
Worcester backers could do worse than support Bang On Time in the Ladbrokes Handicap Chase.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
Nap: Tryster (7.45pm, Sandown)
Double: Consort (8.15pm, Sandown)
Treble: Cut The Corner (7.55pm, Wetherby)
Yankee: Ryan Style (4pm, Lingfield)
