Coral Eclipse Day

A more somber Good Morning today as the racing world holds their breath on updates about the health of jockey Brian Toomey. I'm sure you know by now but in case you didn't he took a fall at Perth mid-week resulting in him being hospitalised with 'life-threatening head injuries'. Thankfully since then he has been stabilised, but we wont get the next update until tomorrow, fingers crossed its a positive one.

Racing must go on however and Sandown hold their annual Eclipse meeting, which Al Kazeem is the deserving favourite for with Queen Anne winner, Declaration Of War in at second favourite. He is joined by three year old stablemate in the line-up, Mars who bids to set the record straight after being unlucky at Royal Ascot. It would take a colossal effort for him to come out on top though. The Fugue takes her chance and attempt to improve a poor record for the girls in this race but she also has no easy task. At Royal Ascot she was staying on behind Al Kazeem and the also reopposing Mukhadram who looks sure to set the pace. German raider Pastorius and Miblish round up the field but are also more than capable of shaking up the field. Supporting the card today is the Group 3, Coral Charge in which Dutch Masterpiece takes a step into this company for the first time.

Away from the Esher track there is also a good meeting at Haydock where they host the Lancashire Oaks, won last year by Great Heavens. Albasharah is the hot favourite for Godolphin this year and looks to be a tough filly to beat. There is also action from Beverley this afternoon, followed by evening meetings from Leicester, Carlisle and Nottingham. We only have the one meeting in Ireland today as the Bellewstown festival carries on, where Cheltenham Festival winner Ted Veale takes on Pique Sous.

Today Martin runs a competition on four races at Sandown, the races are as follows: 2:05, 2:40, 3:15 and the 3:50. All you have to do is make a selection in each race and tweet them to @pigeon_island and you are entered in the competition. Players that hit the four out of four will be rewarded with a free bet from BetVictor. To see other players selections and my blog posts for the website visit www.pigeonscoop4.wordpress.com and remember to follow Martin on twitter.

For a free bet from Betfair if you don't already have an account. Make an account with them and when entering your details type in this code, RCH7K6VRY into the referral code box. Whatever your first deposit, between 25 and 50 pounds, that is what you will receive back a few days later, thus being a free bet. You will only get your money back after you have gambled that first deposited money. The following is from the Betfair website itself. 'If your friend places at least £50* in sports back bets at odds of at least 1.2 in the first 31 days of joining we will credit you with a £25 bonus as a thank you for introducing them. They’ll be eligible for a matched Sportsbook free bet of between £5 and £25.' *The bet must be matched however. I must also stress that I receive a reward for you making your account of however much you first stake, just so you know everything. Good luck with your bet!

Before we begin with this weeks racing, a look back at last week. It was a day that promised so much but never really developed the way we wanted it to after the first two horses in our Lucky 15 won. After Fig Roll and Nabucco went in we were let down by Ghanaian and the very disappointing Libertarian, who was also the week's NAP. However we still ended up with a nice double to keep the bank balance ticking over. But now onto this weeks racing!


2:05 Sandown - Dutch Masterpiece

Long time readers of this blog will know that long ago I branded Dutch Masterpiece a Group horse in the making, he makes his Group race debut today. Two weeks ago he won easily at Newmarket, the reason for him not being a selection on here is simple, I didn't think he would run. In the past connections haven't ran him on faster ground but he showed he is just as effective on it last time out. He was in control of the race around a furlong and a half out and never looked back from there to score by a length and a quarter. The most impressive thing about that win was that he didn't appear to be totally in love with the July Course, mainly the undulations. Throughout the race he seemed to be snatching at the ground and not really striding out fully yet still winning impressively. That win was off 9 pounds higher than his Chester victory previously and the handicapper puts him up another 7 here. That raise leaves Gary Moore with little option but to come here and it will take a good horse to beat him. For some time English Sprinter's have been a bit in the shade and overshadowed by other horses from around the world, Dutch Masterpiece could well be the answer to that. (6/1)

2:55 Haydock - Albasharah

Albasharah was desperately unlucky not to keep her unbeaten title at Royal Ascot after being denied a run at a crucial time. After the incident she stayed on very well for a fast finishing fifth under hands and heels from Silvestre De Sousa. In her three unbeaten runs before that she had impressed on each start and on that form looks a serious animal. Today we will find out just how good she is with the biggest danger potentially coming from Coquet who badly needed her first run. But for today Albasharah looks a definite Group performer and can show that today, nothing else needs to be said. (2/1)

3:50 Sandown - Al Kazeem

Al Kazeem has been a much improved horse this season and is arguably one of the best in Europe, even the world right now. In my opinion, the only horse that can beat him right now is Cirrus Des Aigles who goes for the King George at Ascot. Last time at the Royal meeting he wore down Mukhadram later on in the Prince Of Wales's, showing off his supreme stamina. That was probably as good as the former mentioned is as Paul Hanagan gave him a perfect ride that day from the front. In the end he was just beaten by a very talented individual. The bigger danger may come from the horse in third, The Fugue, but its a big ask for fillies to win this race as history has shown. The same rule applies for Mars as the only three old in the field, but to back him you would be hoping for a much improved performance. As for Declaration Of War, I don't think his stamina will hold out in a Group 1 over this distance, especially one with a confirmed front runner. There are no stamina doubts about the selection though, the only worry being that he needs to have recovered from Ascot, saying that his main rivals all went to Ascot as well. Al Kazeem is a strong selection to land this on the way to tackling The Arc later on in the season. (9/4) (William Hill and Coral will be going 3/1 early this morning)

4:25 Sandown - Model Pupil

Charlie Hills' representative was far from disgraced here two runs ago behind Gloomy Sunday in a Group 3 before shaping well in the Ascot Gold Cup. It looked to me as if Ascot came a year too early for him but he still ran an admirable race to come seventh. If there is one think that is assured it is stamina after firstly seeing out this trip really well in the Henry II and then 4 furlongs further last time. Model Pupil is also a bit unexposed especially compared to his other main rivals, he is also top rated in the field and has bags of room for improvement. James McDonald once again does the steering and he can get a big win to his name here today. The main danger appears to be from Caucus who ran very well on his reappearance behind subsequent Gold Cup winner, Estimate. As long as he doesn't bounce, he should be hard to beat. But preference is for the improving Model Pupil. (5/1)

8:20 Bellewstown - Pique Sous

We have saved the best till last this week with Pique Sous who was a selection on here to win the Supreme Novices at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He returns to the level today over a mile and a half under the sister of Ruby, Katie Walsh who herself has made a reputation. The most important thing for him today is that he gets his beloved fast ground which he needs so badly. The distance is no problem as he is one of the fastest two mile hurdlers around, and after a Dundalk romp before Cheltenham should take some beating. This may only be a bit of a prep run for Galway and eventually the Grimes hurdle at Tipperary, but connections say he is raring to go and is fit. Willie Mullins has been patient with the grey and this looks an ideal opportunity to hopefully round off a good day. (Evens)

NAP - Pique Sous
Nb - Al Kazeem

Id like to say I have a Lucky 15 for you but I cant drop one of the selections with any confidence so we will have to do a Lucky 31 with all 5 horses.

Good Luck and Happy Punting!