Testing conditions will play their part at Sandown today, particularly on the Flat course where the ground is described as heavy, and on that basis it's well worth chancing Clive Cox's Poet in the Group 3 Gordon Richards Stakes (15:45). Twice Over sets the standard and made a perfectly reasonable return when second in the Earl of Sefton, but he's unproven on testing conditions whereas Poet relishes them. All six of Poet's wins have come on ground softer than good (two on heavy), and a repeat of the form he showed when winning at Ayr last September, or when pushing Derby and Arc winner Workforce hard in the Brigadier Gerard over C&D last May, would put him right in the mix today. Poet seems best when able to get his own way in front, which should be the case this afternoon unlike when beaten in France last time (also good to firm ground), so this really looks like his chance to shine.
Today's second SmartPlay comes in the mile handicap two races later on Sandown's card (16:50). It's easy to see why Godolphin's Farhh has been made a short-priced favourite, unbeaten in two starts and Timeform rated 113p, but he has all the hallmarks of a lay today. Those two wins, impressive as they were, have come 15 months apart and, perhaps more significantly, on good to firm ground, so he does have more to prove than a price of 2.166/5 at the time of writing suggests on this latest reappearance. There are a few viable alternatives - John Gosden's Robemaker is a winner on soft ground and Tullius is an interesting runner on his first start for Andrew Balding - but the SmartPlay is to lay Farhh in the win market.
On first glance the 3-y-o mile handicap (18:40) on Doncaster's evening card looks a competitive event, but with Falcon In Flight a non-runner it's likely that only a handful will matter. Richard Fahey's Nemushka, the winner of two of her three starts last year, has an obvious chance, but it could be worth playing against her with Declan Carroll's Farang Kondiew. A big, imposing colt, Farang Condiew improved through three starts in juvenile maidens, and won on his final outing when stepped up to six furlongs on good to soft ground. Given his frame, this Timeform Horse to Follow is expected to have progressed well over the winter and he looks to have been handed a lenient mark (77) ahead of his handicap debut, so he should be able to make his presence felt upped in trip today.
Timeform SmartPlays
Back Poet @ 4.3100/30 in the 15:45 at Sandown
Lay Farhh @ 2.166/5 in the 16:50 at Sandown
Back Farang Condiew @ 5.24/1 in the 18:40 at Doncaster
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