Sandown Racing: 2017 Bletchingly Stakes Betting Tips
Sandown Race 7 – Bletchingly Stakes 1200m – Group 3
The rescheduled Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes is the feature race on the card at Sandown this Sunday, with 12 runners set to line up over the 1200m.
There’s plenty to be excited about in this race, with a few good horses stepping out for the first time before the Spring. Lankan Rupee makes his return, as does Keen Array, while Chocolate Holic makes his Melbourne debut after a very successful start to his career in WA.
Lord Of The Sky is the obvious leader here, but with Charmed Harmony, Keen Array and even Divine Ten all in the field, the pace could be pretty hot. It will be interesting to see how they ride Lankan Rupee from barrier 9. He has the pace to be right up on speed, but I doubt they will want to gas him early. Ability and Savannah Amour should enjoy very nice runs from barriers 4 and 2 respectively just behind the leaders, Tashbeeh can hold a position from barrier 5, while I expect to see Chocolate Holic be allowed to find his feet, so he could settle back in the field. Overall, I’m predicting a solid tempo up front depending on how fresh Lord Of The Sky is.
To my eye, Lankan Rupee is under the odds at $4.40. The stable has said he’s being aimed at the Everest and is nowhere near fully fit for this. Even so, this is his first run back for 274 days, and only his fourth run since April 2015. It’s great to see him back, and of course his best would blow this field away, but I don’t think he’ll be winning this.
The horse I’m keen to back is Ability, who has won all three starts since returning from a spell as a gelding. Those three races have been significantly easier than what he faces here, and this is a big step up in grade, but he’s won those races like a horse that can measure up here. The $10 that was available last week isn’t what we will get here, but the $6 on offer at least allows us to back him each way. Dunn keeps the ride with Williams on holidays, and he just maps to get all the favours in the run from barrier 4. He’s won twice on Soft ground and there really is no reason he can’t go close here.
Chocolate Holic is a horse I’m very excited to see in his first run for Darren Weir. His best is definitely going to be over 1400m, but he’s capable of running a big race here. As aforementioned, from barrier 3 we will probably see him settle further back in the field, but the tempo predicted should suit him. Damian Lane is a great booking, and the only unknown is the Soft ground. He’s not exactly bred to love it.
There was plenty of money for Savannah Amour last week and they’ve stepped into her again here. She is actually into second favourite now behind Lankan Rupee. She’s a Group 3 winner over 1200m and a Group 2 winner over 1400m, and her record first up from a spell is very good. Has won a trial leading into this, and from the barrier she will get a gun run. This is harder than anything she’s faced before, and she’s been unplaced at her two starts on Soft ground which is a genuine query for her at this level.
Everything about Duke Of Brunswick’s form suggests he will run a good race today, while Tashbeeh has a poor second up record but generally turns it around third up, so he could be the blowout in the field. Lord Of The Sky typically needs his first up run but with four wins from six starts when second up, he may improve plenty today. Taking on Keen Array as I think he’ll need the outing.
1st ABILITY
2nd DUKE OF BRUNSWICK
3rd SAVANNAH AMOUR
4th CHOCOLATE HOLIC
