The Weekends Racing – By The Sportsman Racing

FORM: 9 of the last 10 winners came into the race having finished fifth or better on their last outing. WEIGHT : 9 of the last 10 winners have carried 8-11 or less. AGE : 8 of the last 10 winners were aged 6 or younger. DRAW : 8 of the last 10 winners came from stall 14 or lower. DISTANCE: 7 of the last 10 winners having won on the flat over at least 14f. Tominator got the job done last year at odds of 25-1 and it can pay to side with runners at bigger odds with only six favourites bringing home the bacon in the last twenty-seven years. The five-year old grey gelding is a smart performer, versatile on the ground but will find it more exacting this year with the Hollinshead yard under a cloud presently. My fancy against the field is Palazzo Bianco from the John Gosden yard with Nicky Mackay on board. I did fancy another Gosden entrant in the shape of Thimaar but the horse has been withdrawn. Palazzo Bianco fits the stats criteria for the race and acts upon good to soft going with the North of England currently subject to rain of biblical proportions. There are no worries about the four-year old colt lasting the trip and his second outing of the season at the beginning of the month at Haydock was pleasing as he stayed on strongly to take third in the closing stages of the Class 2 handicap. With the taxing conditions expected that was a nice prep run. Being such an open race it’s not one for large stakes but at odds of 11-1 Palazzo Bianco can give supporters a run for their money. At the headquarter’s of racing Dandino looks worthy of support in the Listed Fred Archer stakes at 3.00. Running in the colours of the Elite Racing Club, James Fanshawe’s five-year old close-coupled colt is a smart performer. Steadily progressive in 2011, Dandino hosed up by 11 lengths in a minor event at Ripon before landing the Qipco Jockey Stakes at Newmarket. In the Coronation Cup he ran a respectable 6 lengths fourth to St Nicholas Abbey before looking finished for the season when putting up two below par efforts. Dandino is an industrious horse who gives a 100% and has put up two surefooted efforts in 2012 thus far. 3rd in the Class 1 Barry Hills stakes he subsequently gave backers of 2-7 favourite Sea Moon a major scare when beaten only a head in the Class 1 Tapster Stakes at Goodwood. Sea Moon is rated 121 and gave Dandino’s form a massive boost when romping home in the Hardwick Stakes last week at Royal Ascot.]]>