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Sandown Preview: Rydan poised to follow-up

| 04.07.2014
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Rydan scored with plenty in hand last time out, and with Frankie Dettori in the saddle boasts outstanding claims of following up in the 1m 2f handicap at Sandown today (4.10).

The Robert Mills trained colt had some strong form in maidens, most notably when fourth to subsequent Group 3 Royal Ascot winner Cannock Chase at Windsor, and opened his account in good style when scoring on handicap debut over course and distance last month.

The son of Intense Focus was held-up well off the pace before making steady progress to take up the running deep inside the last and beat Reesha by a cosy 1/2 a length off an opening mark of 80.
Rydan was value for much more than the winning margin, and a 6lb rise in the weights could well be on the lenient side.

The three-year-old looks the type that will go on progressing and has plenty more to offer, and the booking of Dettori suggests connections mean business.

In the 5f handicap that kicks-off proceedings (2.00), Taajub looks weighted to go well after shaping as if coming back to form when last seen in action.

The gelding got back to winning ways on the all-weather at Lingfield in February when cosily beating Royal Bajan by a length off a mark of 85, but then disappointed in his next two starts.

However, the seven-year-old left those runs behind when an eye-catching staying on eighth of of 19 to Caspian Prince in the class 2 “Dash” at Epsom last month, and now gets into this lower grade class 3 contest off 1lb lower.

That makes Taajub look handicapped to go in again off a mark of 89, especially as the son of Exceed And Excel is running off a 6lb lower mark than when finishing an unlucky in-running fifth to Doctor Parkes in this contest 12 months ago.

Trainer Mark Johnston has his team in excellent form at present, and Late Shipment is taken to provide him with another winner in the 1m 6f handicap (4.45) now fitted with cheekpieces for the first time.

The gelding ran out an ultra impressive 10 length winner on handicap debut over 1m 4f at Lingfield back in April, and then finished a solid second off 6lb higher.
Although the son of Authorized has disappointed and been well beaten in his last two runs, both those came on soft ground and today’s quicker surface is likely to see Late Shipment in a far better light.

Johnston also does very well with his stayers, and has a decent strike rate when fitting his inmates with headgear for the first time.

Selections:
2.00: Taajub (NB)
2.30: Snap Shots
3.00: Mustadeem
3.35: Educate
4.10: Rydan (NAP)
4.45: Late Shipment

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Author

David Metcalf

A lifelong Manchester United supporter, David has over 25 years’ experience in the media industry having worked for regional and national newspapers. He is a huge horse racing, football and greyhound fan and has done interviews on various radio and TV stations, including talkSPORT and Sky Sports, whilst working as a PR front man for a betting firm. David has also written for most of the top Premier League football fan websites, and produced a Cheltenham Festival guide with former eight-times champion national hunt jockey Peter Scudamore, MBE, after helping him to set up a syndicate for his trainer son Michael.