Knavery is easily the least exposed in Lingfield's one-mile minor event at 15:40 and should be supported on his return to the all-weather. Roger Varian's charge looked a good prospect when forging clear to win a seven-furlong maiden at Kempton on debut (runner-up has won subsequently) but he failed to build on that at Doncaster next time when finishing a well-beaten third as the 2/1 market leader. He still looked green at Doncaster, though, and wasn't knocked about when his chance had gone, so it is too soon to write him off.
Goodwood Storm was an eye-catching fifth at Lingfield on his penultimate outing and, having followed that up with a creditable third back at the same venue, she is worth chancing on her return to turf in the 18:35 at Sandown. William Knight's unexposed three-year-old could barely have shaped better on her handicap debut in a seven-furlong contest at Lingfield in April, making late headway having been set a mountain to climb after being dropped in from a wide draw, and she subsequently showed improved form to finish third over the same C&D. Goodwood Storm again travelled well, shaping well with the future in mind, and this stiffer course ought to see her to better effect.
Our final bet runs in the extended one mile handicap at Sandown this evening (19:40) as we side with Godolphin's steadily-progressive three-year-old Billingsgate. Billingsgate made the perfect start to his racecourse career when overcoming obvious signs of inexperience to win a Kempton maiden, and, on the figures, he has progressed with each run since. Sectional times confirmed that Billingsgate shaped better than the bare result when making good late headway to finish third in a steadily-run Kempton handicap on his penultimate start, and he again impressed with his finishing effort when bouncing back to winning ways at Doncaster. Billingsgate - who had been gelded following his third at Kempton - was seemingly set plenty to do, anchored towards the rear, but he produced an impressive late burst which took him to the front inside the final furlong, and he won with a fair bit in hand. He remains capable of better yet and can defy a small rise in the weights.
Timeform UK SmartPlays:
Back Knavery @ 4.131/10 in the 15:40 at Lingfield
Back Goodwood Storm @ 8.07/1 in the 18:35 at Sandown
Back Billingsgate @ 2.9215/8 in the 19:40 at Sandown
