Ginger Joe - Coral Eclipse & Three Winning Picks for Sandown

Group 1 action for a hot Saturday at Sandown!

Let’s get the weekend rocking at Sandown. Today I have a preview of Saturday’s big race, the Coral Eclipse, plus three more really hot Sandown picks for you to take a look at and I am really strong on my NAP selection this weekend.

Saturday freebies

There’s plenty of racing action happening this weekend and there’s a great free bet deal from the sponsors of today’s big race for you to take advantage of. Coral currently has a bet £5, get £20 in free bets deal up for grabs, so jump on quick.

15:40 Sandown – The Coral Eclipse (Group 1)

The Coral Eclipse has always been one of my favourite races of the Flat season and even though there are just the four runners in the line-up, this looks like it will be a really good race nonetheless. The first two in the market are extremely smart animals and it will be a seriously good clash to watch, you really don’t want to miss it.

West Wind Blows is the outsider of the four and even though he is a Group 3 winner, he will need to find a fair amount of improvement to be competitive in this field, despite the fact that it’s likely to turn into something of a tactical battle.

Dubai Honour is a very good horse from the Willie Haggas team and he wouldn’t be here if he wasn’t in with a chance. He has won two Group 1s in Australia and on his best form he could be in with some sort of shout. If there isn’t too much pace in the early stages of the race, he could get competitive, but he will need a fair bit of luck to beat the two powerhouses in this field.

Emily Upjohn is a seriously classy filly and has an obvious chance here. She has two Group 1s to her name and last time out she was devastating in the Coronation Cup. The drop back in trip shouldn’t harm her chances too much here, but the concern for me is that she runs here without a hood. This might not be an issue, as she is dropping back in trip, but in her last two runs she really seemed to benefit from it. That said, she comes here with a great chance.

Paddington has gone from strength to strength, starting his racing career by winning a Handicap and progressing from there to the point where he has won twice in Group 1 company.  Last time out he easily saw off 2000 Guineas winner Chaldean in the St James Palace and that is some serious form to bring into this.

Joe’s Verdict

I believe the winner here will be Aiden O’Brien’s superb miler Paddington. He will need to prove he is as effective when stepping up in trip, but he is a seriously classy animal who travels supremely well. I am a huge fan of this horse and I think he is actually even better than he appears.

As I see it, this is a two-horse race, but I’m convinced that it will be Paddington who comes out on top. He’s a seriously impressive colt and one that I think we’ll still be talking about in years to come.

13:50 Sandown - 5f Sprint Stakes (Group 3)

Raasel EW @ 8/1

There are a few in here with plenty of questions to answer, but my selection is Raasel, who must be a real joy to own. He is tough as old boots and on a going day he is seriously fast over this Sprint trip. He won this race last year, he is one from one at Sandown and definitely looks very much at home on this track.

Even though Raasel hasn’t won in a while, he has everything going for him here and I think he has a good chance of making it two from two. He has been running well in some good races and now might be the time to catch him, but he will need to be in tip top form to get it done.  There are plenty of good horses in this race though, so a single only and each way strongly advised.

14:25 Sandown - 1m Handicap

Indemnify @11/2

Alice Haynes is a trainer I have become really fond of and she looks to have a real decent gelding in her hands here in the name of Indemnify. He was purchased out of the Roger Varian yard for over £120,000 and won in great fashion on his last start for the team before being sent to Alice. This was an impressive course and distance win and he looked to have more reserved in the tank whilst being really strong through the line.

He looks to be going places here and looks open to more than most in this field. His latest win was the first start of his after a gelding operation so it’s fair to assume more progression is on the cards here on his first start for his new stable. short enough in the betting but looks very well handicapped here.

16:50 Sandown - 7f Handicap

New Business @ 9/4 (NAP)

In the seven furlong handicap I really fancy New Business, who runs for the Andrew Baldwin team. He’s plenty short in the market, but he looks like a fairly smart colt who definitely hasn’t finished improving just yet. He has run just the three times to date. His first two runs were over a mile, which was maybe just a bit too much of a stretch this early, but he progressed a great deal for the drop back to seven furlongs last time out and I think he can now kick on from that.

He is a very nice traveller, which bodes well for him over this distance I think we’re in for another step forward on his first start in Handicaps. In his first two starts he came up against some horses which have gone on to run in the Derby and other big races, which also boosts his form. This colt is pretty flashy, he is on an upward curve, and I think he has an outstanding chance here.

More free bets here

Thank you for joining me for this weekend's action and I do hope you are enjoying my content here on betting.co.uk. Before you go, don’t forget to check out all of our offers here on the site and tune in next week for more golden selections.

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