It's a big day for Sands Of Mali as he heads to Haydock on Sunday - check out Richard Fahey's thoughts on him and the rest of his team.
He’s a son of Kodiac but has been disappointing at home, he hasn’t shown a lot. We’re hoping the racecourse sparks him into life and he’s ready to start out.
I would love to see him hit form again. Things didn’t go right for him in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, through nobody’s fault. He just found himself completely on his own. He hasn’t had much racing of late and that run is entitled to have brought him on mentally at least. He’s always pleased at home and nothing has changed and I really want him to run well in this on ground that he’ll love.
This race looked like cutting up but a flurry came in late which made it altogether more competitive. He has to step on what he’s done so far. I’d imagine he’ll be a 20/1 chance which sums up his task.
He had no excuses at Thirsk last time when third but that was a solid enough run and if that level of form is good to win this then great. He’ll stay and won’t mind the ground so they are two pluses.
He’s another by Kodiac but looks to be taking after his dam’s sire Teofilo and we’re happy to start him over seven furlongs He’s very fit for his debut and we’ll see what happens but he’s shown a bit at home.
He ran terribly at Newcastle on his return and nothing came to light to explain why. He needs to bounce back here and more as he had some decent two-year-old form.
He finished fifth in the handicap at Newcastle that Palace Pier won – form that was franked by his win in the St James’s Palace Stakes. We knew it was a warm race at the time and I thought our fellow ran ok. He’s been dropped a couple of pounds since and should go well despite top weight here.
This is a bit of a punt and we’ll see what happens. He won well at Redcar last week which encouraged us to have a go. He needs a lifetime best on turf to win this but we know he’s in good form and confident after last week.
She’s also in at Haydock on Saturday and was disappointing on her reappearance at Pontefract. She drops to five furlongs but I think that will suit and she’s in good order
Like Aleneva she’s also in at Haydock on Sturday. She’s won on soft ground but I just feel she’s better on a better surface. She’ll run respectfully wherever she goes though.
He’s as high as he wants to be in the handicap at the moment and didn’t show much at Newcastle first time. He’s back on turf here and doesn’t mind soft ground which is a plus. He’s fit and well.
He never rose a gallop at Ayr first time. He might be paying the penalty for a very good 2019 and needs a bit of help from the handicapper.
She tries very hard and deserves to get her head in front somewhere. She won’t mind cut in the ground and will run her race, she always does.
He’s had a few training problems but is going well again now. We’re stepping him up to seven furlongs for the first time here and if he stays he definitely has a chance.
He’s a very disappointing horse. We’re stepping him up in trip now as he’s been struggling to lay-up in his races and cheekpieces go on as he we think he saves a bit for himself. He won’t mind the ground though and if they work he’ll go close.
He ran well at Doncaster first time and definitely needed that. He’s quite a gross horse who takes plenty of work and is going to progress again. Whether he’ll find enough to win this I don’t know but he’s definitely going to win more races.
I thought he was very unlucky at Pontefract on his reappearance when things just didn’t fall right for him. On that form he could go very close here but we’ll need luck again as there are plenty of runners in there.
He’s in the sales next week and will definitely win races. I ran him at Musselburgh over five furlongs earlier in the week as I thought that was the last chance to try and get his head in front before he went to Tattersalls. It was just to sharp for him then on Thursday they created this race which would have been perfect.
I’m happy to run again as he has come out of it well and he has a big chance if over those exertions.
Another I’m expecting to win race races this year. I’m just worried he might need this run, ours often don’t, but he’s very laidback at home and it might not be lost on him.
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