MICK EASTERBY'S ploy of popping a pair of blinkers on Sandbaggedagain (3.00) is fancied to have the desired effect at Beverley this afternoon.
Easterby is an extremely canny operator and it will not have escaped his attention that Sandbaggedagain possibly failed to put his best foot forward when heavily backed at Ascot last month.
The application of the blinds to the selection might well wake his ideas up and help him lift the Charles Elsey Memorial Trophy in the process.
Peyto Princess (2.30) has been the subject of some encouraging gallop reports from Middleham Low Moor pointing strongly to her prospects in the Kingston Nursery.
Even more encouragingly Chris Fairhurst had his first two-year-old winner of the season at Thirsk on Monday evening, plus a double via Abbajabba and Highfield Fizz at Ayr yesterday.
In the Showcase Handicap sprint punters have a whopping 20 runners to try and sort out.
Mungo Park is bound to have his supporters from a favoured high draw. Sadly he's something of a professional loser and in the circumstances I prefer to side with Trinity (4.30), who hinted at a return to form when fourth to Pips Magic at Newcastle.
Mick Channon's powerful stable seems to have clicked into overdrive lately with steady stream of winners flowing from his Lambourn yard.
The former England footballer has booked 11-times former champion jockey Pat Eddery to partner Repulse Bay (4.10) at Salisbury, a hint which surely should not be overlooked.
Chris Dwyer is normally worth following at Yarmouth so it wouldn't be the shock of the century if L A Touch (3.50) were to oblige in the Albery Handicap. The seven-year-old mare generally reserves all of her best efforts for the popular seaside track, and she wasn't totally disgraced when 8th at Lingfield five days ago.
Plenty of runners are heading for Hamilton's night meeting principally because the softish ground is a major attraction for those horses preferring some juice in the turf.
One such individual I suspect is Entity (8.20), out of the money on most of her outings this term. Perhaps she has not been relishing firm underfoot conditions and is therefore worth one more shot at goal in the woefully weak Saffle Joseph Maiden Handicap.
Finally to Epsom where Scotish Law (5.35) can confirm the promise of his debut second in the opening John Crowden Maiden Satkes. C
l Baileys Cream looked a chip off the old block as she opened her account in impressive fashion in the Bellisle Median Auction Maiden Stakes at Ayr yesterday. Darryll Holland brought the Mark Johnston-trained filly to challenge the long odds-on chance Magnusson three furlongs out but then she showed signs of inexperience.
However, once she got on top just below the furlong marker, she stretched out in great style and stayed on strongly to score by two lengths on her third racecourse appearance.
A step up in class may now await the youngster, and Johnston's wife Deirdre said: ''She has got a stride like Mister Baileys (her sire and the stable's 2000 Guineas winner).
''He had a really impressive stride and floated along the ground and we have always said she was exactly the same.
"She is quite backward still, whatever she does this year is a bonus for next year, but we felt she was going well enough to bring her out and get a win.''
She added: ''We have got her in the Fillies' Mile (Group One at Ascot) so she had to win and win well really to consider it, so we will see how she is and go home and think about it.''
Johnston completed a double half an hour later when Riberac produced a fine turn of foot to win the Tote Exacta Stakes (Showcase Handicap) in convincing fashion under Joe Fanning.
Riberac had to pass a stalls test at Haydock on Saturday to enable her to run here.
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