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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: Caturra can win the Scurry Stakes at Sandown

Clive Cox Sandown Alan Crowhurst Liverpool FC Marco Ghiani Royal Ascot (Facility)

CATURRA can bounce back from his Haydock Park disappointment to win the Coral Scurry Stakes (2.50pm) at Sandown Park as sprints are the order of the day up and down the country this afternoon.

Ahead of next week’s Royal Ascot meeting Clive Cox’s three-year-old can take the Listed five-furlong feature at the Esher track.

While at York Tim Easterby’s ATOMIC LADY can win the big six-furlong sprint, the Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (3.40pm).

In the five-furlong sprint at Sandown Caturra can resume his progress having been fifth, beaten around three lengths by Royal Ascot-bound El Caballo in the Group Two Sandy Lane Stakes over six furlongs on Merseyside last month.

Although the three-year-old colt won over six furlongs as a juvenile, the drop back to the minimum distance and down to Listed level should see him back in the winner’s enclosure.

Caturra won at Bath, Newbury and Doncaster – in the Group Two Wainwright Flying Childers – over five furlongs last season as he looked a progressive young sprinter. Then he was only beaten by three-quarters-of-a-length on his return to action in a Group Three over five-and-a-half-furlongs in France in April.

Although connections expected better at Haydock last time, Caturra is still open to more improvement and he can land a morale-boosting victory down in grade before returning to Group company later in the summer maybe at Newmarket or Glorious Goodwood.

Marco Ghiani and Saaheq (LEFT, yellow/blue) winning The Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap at Sandown Park Racecourse on Saturday, June 12 2021 Picture by Alan Crowhurst/PA/Getty (Marco Ghiani and Saaheq (LEFT, yellow/blue) winning The Coral Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap at Sandown Park Racecourse on Saturday, June 12 2021 Picture by Alan Crowhurst/PA/Getty)

Amanda Perrett’s course and distance winner SAAHEQ may be able to bounce back for form and land another victory at Sandown in the Watch Racing Online Free With Coral Handicap (3.25pm).

The eight-year-old won three times last season including in this race from a 9lb higher mark.

Although he is has been mostly out of form since, he looks on a very attractive mark at a track he goes well on.

With headgear back on and a decent low draw in stall three, he can take advantage and return to winning ways.

Hugo Palmer – who has made a good start to life as trainer at former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen’s Manor House Stables – can win the Coral ‘Beaten-By-A-Length’ Free Bet Handicap (1.40pm) with ROUDEMENTAL.

The three-year-old won at Redcar and was third at Doncaster in his two starts this season. He remains in good form and can land another success in the 1m1f opener at Sandown.

John Quinn’s EMPIRESTATEOFMIND is another northern raider who might triumph down south in the Coral Play ‘Racing-Super-Series’ For Free Handicap (2.15pm). While others who may score at the Esher track are the Willie Haggas-trained GOLDEN VOICE in the Coral Proud Supporter Of British Racing Handicap (4pm) and Roger Teal’s DANCING HARRY in the finale, the Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Handicap (5.10pm).

At York Tim Easterby’s course and distance winner Atomic Lady can return to action with victory in the Pavers Foundation Catherine Memorial Sprint Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (3.40pm).

The Kodiac filly won on the Knavesmire last July and also finished a good second to Ever Given in the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes over course and distance at the Ebor meeting in August. That horse highlighted the form of that run when winning at Epsom last week and despite having not run since a third at Redcar later that month, Atomic Lady can continue her progress with victory in the competitive six-furlong sprint back on the Knavesmire.

Charlie Appleby’s KEMARI – who makes his first start since finishing fifth at Meydan in January – can win the Listed Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (3.05pm), under Liverpool FC fan William Buick.

The four-year-old won the Group Two Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot lat year and although he hasn’t gone on from that success, there is surely more to come from the gelded son of Dubawi. He can resume winning ways before potentially going on to bigger and better things.

The Mick and David Easterby-trained CASILLI can take the opener, the Queen Mother’s Cup Handicap (For Female Amateur Jockeys) (2pm).

Other who may triumph at York are Richard Fahey’s course and distance winner MAYWAKE – who bids for a four-timer – in the JCB Handicap (2.35pm); the David O’Meara-trained PISANELLO in the Ice Co Supporting Macmillan Handicap (4.50pm); and GINGER JAM – from the Nigel Thinkler stable – in the Clean Up With PPS Handicap (5.22pm).

At Chester trainer Paul Midgley holds the key to the five-furlong sprint, the Edinburgh Gin Rhubarb & Ginger Handicap (2.10pm), with MILITIA and stable-mate Glory Fighter, who both with great draws in two and one respectively.

Both course and distance winners Militia beat Glory Fighter by a length at Catterick last time, and although the latter has a 4lb pull this time, Militia could hit the front and be hard to peg back again on the Roodee.

Scouser Franny Norton loves Chester and could have more winners with the Charlie and Mark Johnston-trained SOAPY STEVENS in the Edinburgh Gin Boyzlife Handicap (3.55pm) and Cheshire-based trainer Palmer’s ROMAN DRAGON in the Extra Places Every Day At Betway Handicap (3.20pm).

Warrington jockey and fellow Liverpool FC fan Paul Hanagan may also be among the winners on the Roodee with Tim Easterby’s course and distance scorer GOLDEN MELODY in the Manor Car Hire Handicap (2.45pm) and stable-mate LITTLE TED in the finale, the Edinburgh Gin Classic London Dry Handicap (5.05pm).

Eric Alston’s veteran REDROSEZORRO may also take advantage of a good draw in stall one to win the six-furlong the Edinburgh Gin Seaside Handicap (4.30pm).