18:55 Sandown

Thursday 20 May 2021

All17:2517:5518:2518:5519:2519:55

Casumo Best Odds Guaranteed Heron Stakes (Listed)

Off time: 18:57 | Winning time: 1m 50.29s

(1)

Highland Avenue³⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: W Buick| T: C Appleby| OR: 110| D

11/8

Choicely-bred son of Dubawi who took the step up to listed company in his stride when beating Secret Protector by 1¼ lengths in Feilden at Newmarket (9f, good to firm) last month. The one to beat.

Form: 2-111

(4)

Bullace³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: H Crouch| T: R M Beckett| OR: 95| D

17/2

Progressive sort who was completing a hat-trick when seeing off 9 rivals in 1m Newmarket handicap (good to firm) on reappearance. That form been boosted since and not to be underestimated.

Form: 211-1

(2)

Imperial Sands³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: A Watson| OR: 99| D

22/1

Easy all-the way debut winner at Kempton (1m) and second to Mostahdaf back there next time. Came up well short when pitched into Newmarket Group 3 since but it's still early days.

Form: 128

(3)

Invincible Swagger^b1¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: David Egan| T: R Varian| OR: 87

66/1

Overcame greenness to make a winning debut in 7f maiden at Kempton in January but he hasn't advanced his form significantly since. First-time blinkers will need to spark plenty of improvement.

Form: 1224

(5)

Mithras^t³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 98| D

3/1

AW novice winner last year who stepped up again to make a winning return in traditionally strong 7f Newbury handicap on return in April. Can make presence felt in higher grade.

Form: 441-1

(7)

Mostahdaf⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 101| D

9/2

Has looked a smart prospect when landing short odds in AW novices at Newcastle and Kempton this spring. Likely to play a prominent role for yard which has won last 2 runnings of this.

Form: 11

(6)

Nando Parrado³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: A Kirby| T: C G Cox| OR: 109

14/1

Won Coventry at Royal Ascot before second twice in Group 1 company in France. Respectable fourth in 7f Greenham on return but stamina isn't assured now stepping up to 1m.

Form: 5122-4

Forecasts

Highland Avenue (11/8), Mithras (3/1), Mostahdaf (9/2), Bullace (17/2), Nando Parrado (14/1), Imperial Sands (22/1), Invincible Swagger (66/1)

Likely soft ground is an unknown for HIGHLAND AVENUE, as it is for most of these, but he looked really good when taking the listed Feilden at Newmarket's Craven meeting and is selected to overcome a 3 lb penalty and stretch his winning run to 4. Bullace's Newmarket handicap form looks very strong and he can provide the chief threat ahead of Gosden pair Mostahdaf and Mithras.