Sacred Act hasn't been missed in the market, trading as the well-supported 2.707/4 favourite at the time of writing, but his position at the head of the betting in the one-mile Esher Cup (13:40) is fully justified based on his emphatic debut success at Nottingham. Up against a couple of horses that had shown plenty of promise as juveniles, Sacred Act overcame obvious signs of inexperience and a positional bias to run out a ready one-and-three-quarter length winner, taking time to hit his stride but quickening smartly once the penny finally dropped. He was awarded the Timeform Large P following that eye-catching performance (indicating that he is capable of much better in time) and, representing the red-hot John Gosden yard, he can take this en route to better things.
In stark contrast to Sacred Act, Telescope has been notably weak in the betting amid reports that he will need the run, but, while that may be true, he has the potential to develop into a top-notch four-year-old and quotes of 3.309/4 are too good to ignore in the Gordon Richards Stakes (14:10). Telescope has always been highly regarded, and he was propelled towards the fore of the Derby market following an encouraging success in a strong Newmarket maiden as a juvenile. Telescope didn't make it to Epsom but he clocked an impressive time on his seasonal return at Leicester, winning a weakly-contested minor event by 24 lengths, and it was possible that he was still feeling the effects of that performance when disappointing slightly just over three weeks later at Haydock. Telescope quickly bounced back to his best, however, winning the Great Voltigeur at York in impressive style and, trained by Sir Michael Stoute, a man renowned for his handling of older horses, he looks the type to make a better four-year-old.
Henry Candy sent out a couple of unexposed sprinters to win at Warwick yesterday and he looks to have good claims of registering further success this afternoon with Charles Molson in the five-furlong handicap at 15:50. Largely progressive last season, Charles Molson produced his best effort on his only start over five furlongs, breaking his duck at the third attempt when running out a comfortable winner of a Bath maiden, only needing a hands-and-heels ride to score. It was slightly disappointing that he couldn't make more of an impact in a Newmarket minor event on his only subsequent start, but he still retains the potential for better, returns with his yard in form and is well drawn to attack.
Timeform UK SmartPlays:
All at Sandown
Back Sacred Act @ 2.707/4 in the 13:40
Back Telescope @ 3.39/4 in the 14:10
Back Charles Molson in the 15:50
