3.05pm Sandown Tips & Betting Preview 27/07/2017

Precious little to learn here historically though if the favourite wins this afternoon she would be the fourth in a row and anything that brings a tear to the bookmakers’ eye has to be worthy of a mention. Read on below for a full horse by horse preview plus our selection for the 3.05pm at Sandown this afternoon.

IN SUMMARY: Mark Johnston had a list of top fillies to choose from and has relied on the unbeaten CAPE BUNTING which may well tell its own story. She is stepping up in class but deserves this shot at the big time and looks hard to oppose with more improvement likely. Ellthea is another who should go well but she didn’t ought to be able to keep tabs on the selection.

1 BILLESDON BROOK – A winner last time out for the Richard Hannon yard who are not at their peak with just 8% of winners lately thanks to eight winners from one hundred and four runners in the last two weeks. That was her first win in her fourth start following three places in decent company, and after her six-length romp when stepped up to this trip at Kempton she has to make the shortlist. Sent off heavily odds on that day (8/15 to be precise), the form is hard to judge as yet and she looks as if she needs to build on that to get involved this afternoon.

2 CAMPION – The second of three Hannon runners here and the winner of one of her five starts so far over five furlongs at Bath on lightning fast ground. Last time out she headed off to Newmarket for the Listed Empress Stakes when she finished a well beaten seventh and behind So Hi Society, Elizabeth Bennett, and Tajaanus, but she did find herself trapped for the over a furlong and may well be able to reverse some or all of that form here granted a clear run. There is a serious question mark regarding her stamina having weakened badly over six furlongs at Epsom and with the softer going stretching her even further, others appeal more here.

3 CAPE BUNTING – Trainer Mark Johnston had a list of talented fillies entered here at the early stage but has decided to rely on the unbeaten daughter of Cape Cross which may be a clue in itself. After beating favourite Yafta by a length and a half at Newmarket in June and followed that up with a five-length win at Musselburgh drawing clear over this trip under jockey Joe Fanning. William Buick rides this afternoon and although this is a step up in class she has to be taken seriously for a stable in good form with a 21% strike rate in the last fourteen days.

4 CAPOMENTO – One run and one win for Tom Dascombe’s filly who took her maiden first time out at Ripon by a length from the short priced favourite Lady Anjorica at odds of 16/1. She was as green as grass that day until the penny dropped and seems sure to improve for the experience, but this is a big step up in class and in some ways a leap of faith even though she looks likely to be better suited by the seventh furlong here. The yard aren’t in the best of form with just two winners from their last thirty-six runners which is a negative, but she is a bit of a dark horse and could surprise – Richard Kingscote rides.

5 ELIZABETH BENNET – Bred to be better suited by this seven furlongs as a daughter of Acclamation but has a bit to find after her six-length fifth to Dance Diva at Newmarket when behind So Hi Society but in front of Tanjaanus and Campion. Another who failed to get a clear run in a rough race, she could do better here though sadly the Charlie Hills yard are another merely ticking over with a below par 8% success rate in the last two weeks.

6 ELLTHEA – Slowly away on her Windsor debut over five furlongs when a well-beaten fourth, she showed the benefit of that run with a two-length win over the same trip at Carlisle on soft ground last time out, running on strongly for a comfortable success. Trainer Karl Burke said after that win that “Ellthea was as green as grass and Cliff said she was pulling herself up as soon as she got in line with the others. She was pricking her ears in the last 50 yards and can only improve. I don’t think she beat anything today, but she’s a well-bred filly and a nice filly, so hopefully she can go up in class from here. I’ll have to speak to the owners about Royal Ascot. It’s a possibility, but if we did we’d definitely be stepping her up to six” which suggests they think a bit of her. She obviously missed the Ascot showpiece but ought to find this a lot more to her liking, and if she stays the trip she could be a danger to them all.

7 ROYAL PARKS – The James Tate yard seem a little out of sorts with nine runners but no winners recently which has to be a negative for the daughter of Bated Breath who hacked up on her second outing at Haydock in a Class Four Novice, beating Akvavera by three and a quarter lengths after pulling clear under jockey Danny Tudhope and with the favourite another two lengths adrift in third. The form adds up to very little so far but she could only beat those in front of her that day and do so impressively and seems sure to improve again even if this is a big step up in class for a stable out of form.

8 SO HI SOCIETY – The highest rated filly in the field but then again only half of them have actually have an official rating so far. Stepped up in class after winning her maiden at Chepstow over six furlongs on softer ground in June, the daughter of Society Rock took in the Listed Empress Stakes at Newmarket earlier this month when staying on at one pace in to third and followed that with a career best sixth to Clemmie in the Group Two Duchess Of Cambridge Stakes two weeks later. Again she kept on late after being chased along through much of the race by James Doyle with both runs suggesting the step up to the seventh furlong here could be advantageous. Her small stable is going well with a one-in-four strike rate of late and with a level stakes profit as well, she has to be seriously considered this afternoon.

9 TAJAANUS – Lightly raced with just the two starts, Richard Hannon’s Hamdan Al Maktoum owned daughter of Arcano out of a Nayef mare won on her Newmarket debut over six furlongs in May before finishing sixth to Dance Diva at Newmarket in this class. Yet another who failed to get a clear run that day, she never got on terms at the business end of that contest but could do a lot better with a clear run this afternoon. Jim Crowley rides which is a bonus, but the Hannon yard are not in the best of form with a mere 8% winners and a place may be the best she can aim for here.

10 WHITEFOUNTAINFAIRY – One win from three races for Jessica Harrington at Fairyhouse in a six-furlong maiden and makes her debut for Andrew Balding this afternoon following a twelve and a half length seventeenth at Royal Ascot in the Group Three Albany Stakes over six furlongs in June. Clearly held in high regard but has plenty to find for now and may well improve for her first run for new connections.