17th-Jun-2010

Dandino is the bet here. We put him up as a horse to follow after his latest run at Epsom, when he showed an impressive turn of foot to win a Class 2 10-furlong handicap. He was caught behind a wall of horses at the two-furlong pole that day, but he quickened impressively to catch and pass Fine Sight and Life And Soul inside the final furlong to win going away with plenty in hand. It was a race that was run to suit those who raced handily, not the hold-up horses, so Dandino can be marked up a fair bit even on the bare form of the race.

It was his third win in as many starts, and he continues to progress. That Epsom race has been won in the past by Group class horses like Conduit and Stage Gift, and it would not be surprising if Dandino proved to be good enough to hold his own in Pattern company. His turn of foot will be a potent weapon today in Ascot’s short home straight, and there is a chance that he will improve again anyway for stepping up in distance, his dam stayed the trip, and he is a full-brother to Travolta, who stayed 11 furlongs on the flat and was placed twice over two miles over hurdles.

The handicapper gave Dandino 9lb for his Epsom win but, in truth, he could have given him a fair bit more, such was the manner of his success in a race that wasn’t run to suit, and the impression that he left that he had a fair bit more in hand than the winning margin. He has raced just five times in his life, he is hugely progressive, and it would be disappointing if he did not prove to be a fair bit better than the handicap rating of 91 off which he races today. James Given’s horses are in good form, Paul Mulrennan gets on well with the horse, and rode him with lots of confidence at Epsom, and he should go close today.

DANDINO WON (ADV 7/1, SP 7/1)