Sandown 23/05/2019

7.35 Sandown | Matchbook Brigadier Gerard Stakes 
Danceteria 13-2
On paper, Danceteria should not be good enough to win this Group 3, but it doesn’t look a particularly strong renewal and with Regal Reality not guaranteed to stay the trip and Matterhorn yet to totally prove himself on turf, and I think it could be worth chancing the four-year-old. Progressive last season, including when stylishly skipping in between horses to score over a mile at this track first time out, he disappointed on his final few starts which was understandable given he’d begun the season off a mark of 77 and finished it on 103. Unlike Elwazir, who has good form over the course and distance, he has had the benefit of a run and it was a fine performance too. Settled towards the rear in a Listed race at Maisons-Laffitte, he was only asked for his effort late on and had to give first run to Mer Et Nuages but still collared him close home. The second was only beaten a length in a Group 3 last time, so the form looks solid enough. Connections seem to think he will have come forward an awful lot since his French foray and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him spring a surprise in a race which should be run to suit.

8.40 Sandown | Matchbook Casino Whitsun Cup Handicap
History Writer 2-1
My best bet of the day comes in the final race and I’m sticking with the David Menuisier theme. History Writer ran out a very impressive winner over the course and distance last August, travelling strongly and picking up well to scoot clear of Ledham and Statuario, with Kitaabaat nearly eight lengths behind. I’ve been following the latter since he won at this track as a juvenile and he looks well treated on his best form, but he needs to prove the gelding operation has worked. History Writer ran some decent races in good contests following win without really progressing, but he has now been gelded and his reappearance in the Spring Cup at Newbury was incredibly eyecatching. Held up at the rear until two furlongs out, he made up a huge amount of ground in the final furlong to be seventh to Chatez. Hot favourite Greenside, who was third at Newbury, has been declared a non-runner in this contest, but I fancied History Writer to turn the tables anyway and he remains a strong fancy at 2-1.