With Tattersalls Gold Cup winner White Birch being withdrawn from the race due to poor blood work the Coral Eclipse is expected to be an easy affair for City Of Troy.
Our horse racing tipster has studied the card and gives his best bets from Sandown Park
1.15pm Class 3 handicap: Pitney
Three-year-old colt Pitney ran three times on the all-weather last year, notching an impressive second on debut and winning well at the third attempt. He disappointed when needing the run on reappearance never being involved finishing 15/19.
But he was much improved three weeks ago at Chester. Held up in the rear and forced wide, he was impeded slightly and forced even wider coming off the bend. Coming right round the outside of the field he had plenty to do but stuck to the task well, staying on and only narrowly being denied victory. A longer home run here at Sandown will prevent that from possibly happening again and he can continue his good form to notch his second career win.
3pm Coral Distaff: Soprano
Three-year-old filly Soprano was fairly active last year, running six times. She won on debut before coming sixth in the Albany and was only beaten at Newmarket in a Group 3 race by this year’s Irish 1,000 Guineas winner.
She had a bit of a lacklustre reappearance run at Chelmsford, only coming fifth in a listed race but was better for that run when third at Musselburgh next time out. She improved further for her latest run at Royal Ascot, winning the thirty runner Sandringham, staying on well inside the final furlong to get up late. She can improve further for that run and does have experience at this course so will take some beating.
3.35pm Coral Eclipse: City Of Troy, Al Riffa f/c
Undefeated and untouchable as two-year-old, City Of Troy’s reappearance run at Newmarket was well documented when clearly needing the run. He left that well behind him however at Epsom in the Derby, taking the lead from about two furlongs out and winning comfortably.
It is highly unlikely any of the runners in this race will be able to land a blow on him and being such a short price the only way to bet would be to find a forecast (1-2). The one who makes most appeal is Al Riffa. He came fourth on reappearance in a Group 1 in France but was unsuited by the firm ground in America in his most recent run. The rain that softened the ground slightly yesterday will be to his advantage and is more than capable of a good finish.
