Ahead of a weekend of racing highlighted by strong contests at Beverley and Sandown, Matty Sutcliffe has provided his followers with four value punts, all at double-figure prices, to enjoy backing for the action.
1:30 Beverley – William Hill Silver Cup Handicap (Class 4) (3yo+ 0-85) – Time Tells All 12/1 1pt EW 3 places
By Sea The Stars from the family of Irish 1000 Guineas winner Homeless Songs, TIME TELLS ALL is bred to come to good at some stage in her career and it appears Declan Carroll has finally found the key to unlocking his ability.
He was a backward three year old for Dermot Weld and while he initially fared no better for Carroll last term, he did manage to placed in two class five handicaps prior to being put away for the season. He reappeared this term with three below par efforts albeit he failed to stay two miles at Carlisle, though there was a glimmer of hope with his staying on one length fifth at Catterick that a breakthrough success was imminent. That proved the case at Beverley in July when running away with a class six over this trip, travelling comfortably in behind the leaders before pulling out wide to win under hands and heels.
The form of that contest has worked out with the third, fifth and eighth all winning next time out (eighth followed up again), and he backed that effort up at Pontefract when staying on well from rear when not able to kick along with the first two home, who dominated the race throughout and got going from the bend. The winner has since gone in again now rated 10lbs higher on a mark of 89, and Time Tells All was able to improve once more when returned to Beverley to comfortably land a 0-68 by two lengths. He looked a very well handicapped horse there as he travelled sweetly in midfield before winning two lengths by hands and heels, and he proved he was up to this grade when a length third over C& when caught a touch too far back in a steadily run race, clocking the quickest final furlong and the highest finishing speed percentage of 101.28%.
His form over C&D now reads 113, the yard remains in excellent form with ten of their last fourteen runners filling the frame including three winners, and with an honest pace looking likely he can travel strongly in behind leaders before coming with a late run.
1:50 Sandown – Download The BetMGM App Handicap (Class 3) (3yo+ 0-95) – Glenfinnan 14/1 1pt WIN
Having dodged the well-handicapped GLENFINNAN since being quite sweet on his chances at the Dante meeting in May, I’m happy to give him another chance here given he returns to the scene of his last win and is 11lbs lower this time around.
He caught the eye on seasonal debut at Doncaster when fourth in his group of ten on the near side having stayed on well late toward the grandstand with the race favouring those to the far side. He failed to get competitive at York when not given an all that strong ride in rear under Rossa Ryan, and a subsequent wind surgery in June may have excused the two efforts after York.
He fared no better at Goodwood after having his wind done, but the cliche’d term they’ll improve for that first run appeared to prove true, as he was only beaten four lengths in a racing league contest on all-weather debut last week under what could only be described as a tender ride.
That signalled a return to form, and where better to pop up at the very race of his last win with ‘a return to Sandown’ no doubt the explanation to the stewards. The yard very rarely send them down to Sandown with just three runners there in the last five seasons, so this looks the plan and while a little faith is required, it will be no surprise to see him bounce back to form.
2:05 Beverley – William Hill Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+) – Habooba 20/1 1pt EW 3 places
While she may only be rated 90, Nyquist mare HABOOBA has put in successive career best performances the last twice and her latest success at York was only her third start on turf, so there looks to be plenty more improvement still to come.
I was wildly impressed with her York win, as she clocked the quickest time on the card in a race where they didn’t go particularly quick early on, but she displayed a smart turn of foot to clock the fastest final furlong on the side of the track which still appeared the least favourable, with the rest of the field converging toward the far side which was the case with most of the card.
The form of that race has been franked by the third, JM Jungle, who has since landed group one honours with the second and fifth also winning since. Habooba’s win was certainly no fluke, as she showed solid pace to land a Kempton handicap in March to beat Aramram, who’s form figures since read 2221649 in some valuable sprint now rated 10lbs higher.
Habooba returns from a break having missed a couple of engagements since, but she won at York from a 63 day layoff and with her record in this headgear now reading 1123811, connections have evidently found the key to her and she can provide another shock result in the sprinting department.
3:00 Sandown – Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At betmgm.co.uk Handicap (Class 2) (3yo+ 0-105) – Jeff Koons 16/1 1pt EW 4 places
I initially had my eye on JEFF KOONS for the Clipper Handicap at York and I was surprised they opted to skip that pot, but this contest looks a far weaker one and perhaps more ideal.
The son of Frankel was previously with John Gosden in the White Birch Farm colours and has some competitive form in handicaps after landing a Newmarket Novice in July 2023, prior to being bought by Wathnan Racing for a campaign in the Middle East. Jeff Koons was a winner of a Doha listed contest on stable debut for Hamad El Jahani, and he was a length behind the talented Simca Mille next time out in a conditions contest.
He bagged another success overseas earlier this season but his form since returning on these shores has caught the eye. He failed to give his running in listed company at Goodwood, but he was an excellent eight in the Royal Hunt Cup when fourth in his group of six on the far side. That form has worked out very well, with the second taking the Clipper Handicap at York now rated 7lbs higher, the sixth taking the John Smith’s Cup before a Goodwood conditions race now rated 20lbs higher, and the seventh taking the Shergar Cup Mile now rated 3lbs higher.
Jeff Koons backed up that effort over Saturday’s C&D with a length third to 6/4F Windward in Listed company next time out, and he was then second to Fox’s Legacy in that conditions race at Goodwood. He’s proven capable of running well in contests better than Saturday’s handicap, so the step back up trip over a C&D he’s put a career best RPR in can see him run a solid race with the yard in good form.
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