Taajub shaped as if coming back to form last time out and looks decent value at 11/1 to land the opener at Sandown this afternoon (2.20).
Peter Crate’s gelding is a smart performer at his best and was in fine form last season when winning three times.
The last of those successes came in a very competitive 21-runner class 2 contest at Ascot where he ran on strongly to get the better of Mass Rally by a neck off a mark of 92.
He then went on to be beaten just a short-head by Desert Recluse at Ascot off 100 before running a stormer to finish third of 10 to Swiss Spirit in a Group 3 contest at Newbury off an official rating of 103.
The six-year-old was then outclassed when well beaten in the Group 1 Prix de L’Abbaye at Longchamp on his final start of 2012, and it’s fair to say that he didn’t show much in his first two starts this season.
However he shaped far better last time out in the class 2 Epsom Dash where he chased the leaders and stayed on after encountering trouble in running to finish a 3 length 10th of 17 to Duke Of Firenze.
It was an effort which suggested he was working his way back to form, and having been dropped another 3lb by the handicapper he now gets into this off a mark of 95.
That is just 3lb higher than his last win and gives him a major chance at the weights judged on his run behind Swiss Spirit off 103.
He also now takes a drop down in grade into class 3 company, and with Adam Kirby in the saddle and a good draw in stall 3 everything looks in place for a huge run.
Daily Sport recommended bet: 3pts each-way Taajub (11/1 BetVictor – BOG)
