Tough conditions ideal for Prince

AS the excitement builds up in anticipation for Royal Ascot this Saturdays better quality of racing comes from Sandown and York and as well as some competitive and good class handicaps there are a couple of listed events with some interesting runners involved.

Kicking things off is Prince Of Sorrento whom was the last winner for the late John Akehurst. He has done nothing but improve in recent times under the care of Lee Carter and his most recent performance his best yet and under similarly testing conditions there's every chance his run could continue. Certainly he appeared to handle conditions better than everything else at Yarmouth last time out when a 7 length winner and given it will be hard work at Sandown in Prince Of Sorrento is a horse who should relish the conditions. His record good or better is 0/10 where as racing on good to soft or softer is 3/4 with the latest of those wins coming on heavy ground last time out. He's 9lbs higher and into a better race than last time but whilst the conditions are in his favour and he is in this type of form he is worth following closely.

The Bond Tyres Trophy at York looks a ferociously competitive 3yo handicap contest and Safari Sunseeker could well be the answer to solving the puzzle. He was very impressive winning at Haydock last time out and even with a 10lb rise from the handicapper he should come here with a competitive chance. He appeared to be travelling too well just after half way and his jockey had little choice but to let him go on probably earlier than planned before 2 out and he came right away from his field with out having been challenged and eventually winning comfortably. There could be a case of having got 'first run' on the runner up that day but there was 8 lengths back from the winner to the 3rd horse home and I think he would have been difficult to beat regardless. William Knight struggled through last year but has shown a resurgence in 2012 and though this horse only joined him at the back end of 2011 this stable could still prove to have a few nicely handicapped horses for this season and this could be one of them.

In the 5f sprint at Sandown it's hard to look too far beyond Pearl Secret. He's improved with every run so far in his career and was most impressive on his latest outing at York. Despite having taken a pull through the first half of the race he picked up the field with a good change of gear heading into the final furlong and once in front inside the last was well in control of the race. Though it will be testing he's handled testing conditions before when winning at Doncaster though it will likely prove a bit tougher than that Saturday. He couldn't have a better pilot either in Richard Hughes who rides the 5f course here better than most at a 20% strike rate and with the stable in good form also this improving sprinter with so much in his favour looks sure to be tough to beat.

The 3.45 could finally prove the chance Dance And Dance has been after to get his head in front at Stakes level after a massively encouraging run in the Diomed Stakes on his recent re-appearance. He met his old foe Side Glance that day who just proved too strong for him on this occasion but having been off the track for four months there is a lot of encouragement to take from it. He was always going to have to pass Side Glance having to come from off the pace but he could never quite get to him and wasn't given a hard race especially when Ryan Moore sensed the chance was gone inside the final 100 yards or so. Hopefully he will come forward from this run and re-produce a performance like he put up in the group 3 Sovereign Stakes at Salisbury last year when narrowly beaten by Side Glance when a strong finishing second and if he does he'll have a big chance here.

Selections Summary
Saturday, June 16:
2.50 – Prince Of Sorrento
3.10 – Safari Sunseeker
3.25 – Pearl Secret
3.45 – Dance And Dance