Betfair Silver To Strike Sandown Gold

Wednesday May 28, 2008

A cracking race looks on the cards for Thursday's Betfair Ltd Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown, where it could be worth taking a chance on Silver Pivotal.

One of the most unexposed horses in the 15-runner field, Gerard Butler's filly was desperately unlucky not to win the Lingfield Winter Derby in March.

Drawn out wide, Jamie Spencer elected to drop right out at the back of the big field and as Clive Brittain's Hattan made his bid for home, she only had two behind her.

The four-year-old flew up the straight but could only get to within two lengths of the winner, who only went down by half a length to Ask in the Gordon Richards Stakes.

The Pivotal filly is lightly raced, having won three of only six career starts, and is obviously open to plenty of improvement.

While this race is her toughest task to date - the likes of St Leger winner Lucarno and new Godolphin recruit Happy Boy are also in the line-up - Silver Pivotal has the scope to prove herself at this level.

Royal And Regal was a victim of Geordieland's first success in this country in the Yorkshire Cup but compensation awaits.

Trained by Andre Fabre in his formative years, he is now in the care of Michael Jarvis and has made a great start to his British career.

He won a wide-open renewal of the John Porter Stakes at Newbury before going down narrowly at York.

Neil Callan, who is on board again, kicked on a good three furlongs out and looked to have the race in the bag before Shane Kelly pounced late on the winner.

Jarvis stated the Ascot Gold Cup will be given a miss this season so races like the Betfair Henry II Stakes take on even more importance for this talented four-year-old.

It was unfortunate for Marcus Tregonning that he lost the potentially-useful Il Warrd to Godolphin earlier this season but he appears to have uncovered another smart sort in Finjaan, who reappears in the Betfair Sportsbook As It Should Be National Stakes.

A winner of a decent Newmarket maiden on his debut, he carried the second colours of Hamdan Al Maktoum to success that day.

However Martin Dwyer did not even have to resort to the whip to beat Barry Hills' Ouqba, who had the benefit of experience.

Royal Ascot was immediately mentioned and it will be disappointing if he gets beaten before the showcase meeting.

Paul Cole's Moynahan should take some beating in the Betfair Poker Heron Stakes after finishing sixth in the 2000 Guineas.

Always highly regarded by Cole, that was only the third start of his life and he can only improve.

The Mark Johnston-trained Shaweel made a pleasing debut at York and looks a good thing in the EBF Fund Maiden Stakes at Ayr.

Lady Avenger faces her easiest task for a while in the Barclay West Handicap at Great Leighs for James Eustace, who can bring up an across-the-card double at Yarmouth with Sunny Sprite in the WaterAid Median Auction Maiden Stakes.

Stoute has a very rare runner at Newcastle in the shape of Crystal Capella, who should prove up to the task in the J & G Archibald Builders Merchants Maiden Fillies' Stakes.

There is also summer jumping action at Wetherby, where David Pipe can score with Fourty Acers in the jemboutique.com "Nice Stuff For Busy Girls' Novices" Hurdle.