Forest Row won’t mind any give underfoot and looks worth an each-way wager at 16/1 in the 8.50 at Sandown this evening.
Clive Cox’s charge showed plenty of promise in two maiden runs at Newbury as a juvenile, most notably on his debut when 5th of 22 to Wise Venture.
After being slowly into stride and well behind he finished with a real rattle to be beaten just 2 1/2 lengths, and the form that race has worked out well with the third home Trumpet Major going on to land the Craven Stakes before finishing fourth to Camelot in last year’s 2000 Guineas and plenty of others in the contest also going on to taste success.
The selection duly confirmed the promise he had shown as a juvenile when powering home on soft ground to readily account for Lucanin by just under 3 lengths on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury last year.
The son Cockney Rebel was always travelling extremely well that day, and looked sure to win plenty of races judged on the manner of that victory.
He was pitched in at the deep-end for his handicap debut in the Britannia at Royal ascot back of that effort and showed good speed until weakening to finish 17th of 29 to Fast For Free of a mark of 88.
The gelding was then well beaten in just two further runs last season, and it was a similar scenario on his seasonal reappearance at Ascot earlier in the month when he finished 14th of 18 to Rockalong .
However he looked and ran as if needing the outing that day, and has since been dropped 3lb to a mark of 76 and now gets blinkers for the first time and the give underfoot that he relishes.
If the combination off a lower mark and headgear can do the trick then he could well be on a handy weight in this on the pick of his form – especially with Ryan Tate in the saddle taking another 5lb off his back and negating the fact that he is running from 5lb out of the handicap.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Forest Row (16/1 bet365 – BOG)