04-Jul-2009

Triple Aspect was an impressive winner in the end over this course and distance two and a half weeks ago, a factor that is significant on Sandown’s sprint track, and he is solid. However, Jargelle set a frenetic pace that day and William Haggas’s colt was completely outpaced at halfway before staying on well. He may not get the frenetic pace today that he may need over five furlongs – he does give the impression that he needs every yard of a stiff five – and, while there are front-runners in here, they are unlikely to go as fast as Jargelle did through the early throes. Also, Jargelle was well beaten at Ayr on her only subsequent run. Triple Aspect is ostensibly drawn well in stall 11 against the far rail, but that may not be a positive if he has to come from behind runners, and he is a take-on job at 15/8 in my book.

I was tempted by Anglezarke. She got to within a neck of Ialysos at Haydock at the end of May and ran a cracker in the King’s Stand. However, I thought she would be a bigger price for this. She may have been flattered a little by running on against the stands rail at Ascot, the fastest part of the course on the day, and I think she is going to need six furlongs this year to be at her best. Sandown’s five is a stiff five, but so is Ascot’s, and she gave the impression that she could have been doing with another half a furlong at least there.

I am giving Ialysos another chance. You can convince yourself to put a line through his Golden Jubilee run. He just got crowded out of it early, William Buick never appeared to be where he wanted to be, and he was easy enough on him when he couldn’t win. Cumani said during the week that he just doesn’t like to be crowded, which he was at Ascot. Of course there is a chance that he will be crowded again today, but hopefully Christophe Lemaire will be able to bounce him out of stall nine, a good draw towards the far side, and adopt a handy enough position. He is a really fast horse, and this stiff five should suit. Again, I hoped that he would be a bigger price, but I am happy to back him at 9/2.

IALYSOS WON (SP 9/2)