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Liverpool Echo

Sport

Chris Wright

Horse Power: Great State can win the Scurry Stakes at Sandown

Esher (Person) Richard Fahey Sandown Adam Davy Alan Crowhurst Charlie Johnston John Quinn Shaquille (Person) William Buick Sky Bet

GREAT STATE can continue his fine form with another victory in the Listed Molson Coors Scurry Stakes (2.55pm) at Sandown on Saturday afternoon ahead of next week's Royal Ascot.

Richard Fahey’s three-year-old can make it four wins in a row this season and score again at the Esher track.

The gelded son of Havana Grey appears a very speedy type and this contest looks the ideal next step up the sprinting ladder. He won once as a juvenile at Wolverhampton in November. But he has progressed with each start this season, scoring at Southwell in March before following up on his first start on Turf in soft conditions at Thirsk at the start of May. He showed his versatility and improvement when stepped up to Listed company in the Westow Stakes at York last month on good to firm ground. He easily scored by two-and-a-half lengths, staying on well having been behind early on.

Under Oisin Murphy – who partnered him to that success on the Knavesmire – and from a decent draw in stall two, Great State can take another step forward and grab a second Listed success.

Rabaah (second right, blue and white colours) finishing fifth to Royal Ascot-bound Shaquille in the BetVictor Carnarvon Stakes at Newbury Racecourse on May 20 2023 Picture by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images (Alan Crowhurst/Getty)

Up at York in the big sprint contest, the Oakmere Homes Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap (Heritage Handicap) (3.40pm), Charlie Hills’ RABAAH looks to hold a big chance of victory.

The Dubawi colt ran just once as a juvenile, but after a couple of victories on the all-weather at Lingfield and Wolverhampton at the start of the year, he returned to Turf when a slightly disappointing fifth behind Royal Ascot-bound Shaquille at Newbury last month. But that run should have him spot on for this and he can land a first success on the grass and could have a good season.

Back at Sandown Alice Haynes’ course and distance winner MAYSONG can win again in the Aspall Cyder 1728 Handicap (2.15pm). The six-year-old has been out of form in his last two runs at last month’s Chester May Festival and Epsom at the start of the month. But he won at Redcar in April and also scored over course and distance at this time last year. He is still a touch high in the handicap but the return to the Esher track may bring out a return to form.

Simon and Ed Crisford’s OWL ISLAND, under Liverpool FC fan William Buick, can make it three wins from three starts in the Watch RacingTV Free For 31 Days Handicap (3.25pm).

Buick may also partner the Charlie Johnston-trained LOYAL TOUCH to victory in the opener, the racingtv.com/freetrial Handicap (1.40pm). The three-year-old No Nay Never colt won twice as a juvenile and can build on his seasonal return when ninth at Newbury last month to land another success.

John and Thady Gosden’s A DUBLIN LAD – who was third at Newmarket on his only juvenile start last October – can open his account under Frankie Dettori in the Darley British EBF Maiden Stakes (GBB Race) (4pm).

Others who can win at Sandown are the Owen Burrows-trained ROWAYEH in the Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Now Fillies’ Handicap (4.35pm) and Richard Hughes’ WHOLEOFTHEMOON in the finale, the Visit racingtv.com Handicap (5.05pm).

Back at York trainer Hills may have another winner in the opener, the Queen Mother’s Cup Handicap (For Female Amateur Jockeys) (2pm) with SARATOGA GOLD. The five-year-old has won six times but will be running on the Knavesmire for the first time. Saratoga Gold made a pleasing return to action when third at Newmarket over 1m6f last month and the form has been franked from that run by the third Pons Aelius and fourth Prince Alex both winning since. Saratoga Gold can do the same.

Roberto Escobarr (left), ridden by jockey Richard Kingscote, on the way to winning the Racehorse Lotto Henry Ii Stakes during Brigadier Gerard Evening at Sandown Park Racecourse on Thursday, May 25 2023 Picture by Adam Davy/PA (Adam Davy/PA)

ROBERTO ESCOBARR won the Listed Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (3.05pm) last year and the Willie Haggas-trained six-year-old looks to have his ideal conditions to follow-up with another success this time. The gelded son of Galileo arrives back on the Knavesmire, where he has won twice in five starts, in good form having took the two-mile Group Three Henry II Stakes at Sandown last month. Dropped back down to 1m6f and in Listed company again he can add another success.

Michael Herrington’s in-form GOOD EARTH won last weekend at Beverley and can double up turned out quickly in the finale, the Clean Up With PPS Handicap (5.25pm). A course and distance winner last July, Good Earth built on his second at Redcar with victory at Beverley last week and off the same handicap mark with conditions ideal the Acclamation gelding can score again.

FORTAMOUR, under Warrington jockey Paul Hanagan, can win the Sky Bet Handicap (2.35pm). Ben Haslam’s seven-year-old has been on the go a fair bit this season with six runs since March, although he hasn’t won since a success over six furlongs at Ripon last May. But he has hinted at a potential return to form in a couple of his runs this season, including when second at Ripon at the start of last month. He is 5lb below his previous winning handicap mark and can take advantage with victory in this seven-furlong contest.

Others who can win on the Knavesmire are the John Quinn-trained TWILIGHT ROMANCE – who was third on his debut at Haydock Park last month – in the Reg Griffin Appreciation ebfstallions.com Maiden Stakes Owl Island (GBB Race) (4.15pm); and David O’Meara’s PISANELLO in the Ice Co Supporting Macmillan Handicap (4.50pm).

At Chester Liverpool-born jockey Franny Norton may land another winner on the Roodee with the Johnston-trained IN THESE SHOES looking a good bet in the Roodee Handicap (3.20pm). Weighing room veteran Norton will have to use all his experience to get In These Shoes into a winning position breaking from stall 11 in the seven-furlong contest. But on his win at Beverley and third at Haydock last weekend the three-year-old filly can score again.

Richard Fahey’s VINTAGE CLARETS has fared better with the draw in the five-furlong Edinburgh Gin Handicap (2.10pm) in stall two. And despite not troubling the judge in the Dash at Epsom at the start of the month, the four-year-old is dropping down the handicap and can score in this less-competitive contest.

Others who may also triumph at Chester are the locally-trained SUCELLUS – from the stable of Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero – in the Edinburgh Gin Classic Handicap (2.45pm); Andrew Balding’s recent Leicester winner BITS AND BOBS in the opener, the Juddmonte EBF Restricted Novice Stakes (Bands B, C And D) (EBF Restricted Race Qual’) (GBB) (1.35pm); the Hugo Palmer-trained ROMAN DRAGON – another from a Cheshire stable – in the Edinburgh Gin Seaside Handicap (4.30pm) and David Loughnane’s BOOKMARK in the finale, the Edinburgh Gin Navy Strength Cannonball Handicap (5pm).