Sandown Saturday

2.42 BetMGM Scurry Stakes (Listed) 5f 10yd

There used to be a strong bias towards the far rail over this course and distance, but that certainly wasn’t in evidence on Friday, with those drawn middle to high faring best in the first two races, and Marching Mac, despite being drawn in stall one, eschewed the rail as he made all the running for Grace McEntee.

That is good news for the progressive Poantan, who is drawn in stall six and looks capable of springing a minor shock. Rated 85 after winning a Windsor novice in August, he showed further improvement when third in the valuable Weatherby’s Scientific Two-Year-Old Stakes at Doncaster, despite seeming to find the six-and-a-half-furlong trip stretching him.

Poantan travelled as well as anything at Doncaster, but a strong run from midfield flattened out in the last 50 yards and he appeals as the type to benefit from the drop to five furlongs this season. His improvement seemed to be fuelled by a mid-season breathing operation, after he had found little off the bridle on his first two starts (when tongue tied).

He looked transformed when winning easily at Windsor and, while this represents a step up in class, the pair who beat him narrowly at Doncaster have since won in listed and Group 3 company, and Poantan himself has the makings of a pattern performer at sprint trips. His trainer could hardly be in better form, after bagging a first domestic Group 1 last weekend, while Forty Years On was another good winner for George Scott at Newbury on Thursday.

3.17 Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog At BetMGM.co.uk Handicap 1m

I’m not sure what’s going on with Circus Of Rome, but he’s one to note here despite the unsuitable trip. A big eye-catcher over a mile and a quarter at Goodwood on his return, he was somewhat bizarrely fitted with a hood there and was given no chance of getting competitive. The impression is that he will need a return to a mile and a half to show his best and his only other entry at the time of writing is in the Northumberland Plate over two miles at Newcastle! There’s a good race in him, assuming connections know what they’re doing.

Raammee wears a hood for the first time here, having raced too freely over course and distance on his return and he has a decent chance if the headgear has the desired effect. He won both starts last term, including when beating a subsequent winner by 12 lengths at Newcastle and, while that race lacked depth, he showed his stamina for a mile there and should progress as he learns to settle better.

3.55 Bet £10 Get £40 With BetMGM Handicap 7f

His only defeat to date was when pitched into the Acomb Stakes at York on his second start, and Sovereign Ocean can make it three wins from four runs in this handicap, having made the perfect start for Marco Botti at Wolverhampton on St Stephen’s Day. Previously with Iain Jardine, Sovereign Ocean looked a smart prospect when beating a pair of next-time-out winners at Dunstall Park.

A winner on debut at Musselburgh, the return to turf is not expected to prove any issue, and he appeals as the best prospect on show. Backers of Cashbox will be intrigued to know that he was deemed a non-runner at Windsor recently, having “done a Cellini” in the stalls. It will be intriguing to see how he fares with that aborted effort now stricken from the form book.

York Saturday

1.50 Queen Mother’s Cup Handicap (Female Amateurs) 1m 3f 188yd

Chillingham was the official winner of this a year ago, but punters didn’t get paid as he was only awarded the win several days later, when winning rider Megan Jordan was referred to Shaftesbury Avenue for her use of the whip on My Dream World. Chillingham would be a player on his effort 12 months ago, but disappointed last time at this track having moved from Ed Bethell to Micky Hammond.

A more reliable option is Arqoob, who is best at 10/12 favourite and was beaten less than two lengths by Asgard’s Captain on his return at Newmarket. He should be sharper for that and won’t lack for assistance with the excellent Brodie Hampson taking over in the saddle.

2.25 Sky Bet Supporting Macmillan Handicap 7f

Lir Speciale can run off the same mark as when beaten a nose over course and distance on Friday and deserves to get his head in front, having hit the frame on three of his four starts this term. Brian Ellison’s charge is sure to go up a couple of pounds for Friday’s effort and the same connections (Ellison and owner Kristian Strangeway) pulled off the double in the same two races with Tolstoy in 2024.

On that occasion, Shay Farmer was in the plate for the apprentice race, and Ben Robinson was the winning jockey on the Saturday, and the same pilots have been engaged again this time around, suggesting this is no coincidence.

3.00 Sky Bet Race To The Ebor Grand Cup Stakes (Listed) 1m 5f 188yd

Al Qareem picks himself in such events as his record over the years shows. The concern is that his defeat in the Ormonde Stakes last time was a rare blip for him, but my view has always been that he doesn’t want any “firm” in the going, having got jarred up as a young horse, and the ground was much quicker than anticipated at Chester.

He can’t afford to be off his game again, obviously, but consistency has been his watchword for years now and I hope he can add to his enviable record at listed/ Group 3 level.

3.35 Churchill Tyres Supporting Macmillan Sprint Handicap 6f

The three-year-olds Red Spells Danger and Thunder Call dominate the market and preference is for the latter, who is completely unexposed after just three runs and made a deep impression when winning a Kempton maiden last month by six lengths.

The third that day has won twice since, earning a handicap mark of 82 in the process, so it’s hard not to think Thunder Call may have been let in lightly off 85. Of course, lack of experience can be the undoing of many a well-handicapped youngster, but I find it very hard to get away from William Haggas’s son of Pinatubo, who is a half-brother to connections’ Craven Stakes winner Skardu, among others.

Chester Saturday

2.10 Ladbrokes Get More With Racing Bet Builder Handicap 7f 127yd

Proud Nation looks seriously overpriced dropping in trip after a perfectly respectable last of three on his return at Hamilton, where he took the eye in the paddock and the race, but simply failed to get home over an extended mile.

Second to the aforementioned Sovereign Dream on his debut at Musselburgh, he won a seven-furlong maiden at York on his second start, and that race has worked out tremendously well.

Fifth that day was Crown Office, who earned a BHA mark of 84 when winning next time, while the Secret History, who finished third, also won next time, as did the fourth Infinite Dream, who got the better of another mid-80s colt in Inishbeg on his next outing.

Given how well the form has worked out, a mark of 87 for Proud Nation is more than fair, and he looked to have progressed again at Hamilton for all the race didn’t play to his strengths.

With fitness now assured, and the drop to an extended seven furlongs looking very much in his favour, I think Proud Nation can take this on his way to bigger things.

Recommended

Poantan 2.42 Sandown - 1pt e/w @ 10/1 (Ladbrokes, Coral, Betfred)

Sovereign Ocean 3.55 Sandown - 1pt win @ 6/1 (general)

Lir Speciale 2.25 York - 1pt e/w @ 10/1 (general - Bet365 6 places, others 5pl)

Thunder Call 3.35 York - 1pt win @ 9/2 (general)

Proud Nation 2.10 Chester - 1.5pts e/w @ 14/1 (general)

Rory recommended Bay City Roller at 20/1 last week.