Saturday Tote Placepot Tips for Sandown from Architect

Leg 1 Selections: Alpha Capture, Indemnify

In leg 1, the Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap, I am playing a course winner and a couple of well-handicapped horses against the field. 

The first one is ALPHA CAPTURE who will appreciate the drop in grade and would have outstanding claims if able to reproduce either his two-year-old form (Listed winner and second to Cold Case) or his second at Southwell at the start of the year. 

He is thrown in here off 82 and makes plenty of appeal, while top-weight and recent fourth at this course INDEMNIFY is also featured on the shortlist. 

Leg 2 Selections: Heredia, Midnight Mile 

HEREDIA has won two of her three starts over this distance and produced a personal best when winning emphatically at Haydock in a Listed event last-time-out over this trip. She has an excellent win strike-rate and should have even more to come, so she’s of strong interest with conditions to suit. 

MIDNIGHT MILE ran well on her only previous start over a mile when fourth in a Group 1 at last year’s Breeders Cup and performed really well when third behind the males in a Group 3 last-time-out. Back against her own sex with improvement on the cards and coming out best at the weights, she is a major player in leg 2. 

Leg 3 Selections: Gaassee, Groundbreaker 

GAASSEE travelled like the best horse in the race last time but could only finish fourth which was a bit of a disappointing result. 

The drop in trip in a strongly-run race here will suit though and he was previously an unlucky fourth in the Old Newton Cup at Haydock which reads good form. 

He beat subsequent course winner Forza Orta here last year with plenty to spare as well, so he’s a definite contender in leg 3 from a two pounds lower mark than last time. 

GROUNDBREAKER made the frame in a pair of Listed events last year and ran well on his return at Chester, form that has been boosted since. He must be respected following wind surgery from a mark that’s within range. 

Leg 4 Selections: Starlore, Aablan

STARLORE looked a horse with serious potential when winning over course-and-distance on debut in July, a race that looked really strong for the grade, and is open to improvement. 

He had subsequent easy Listed winner Arabian Crown back in third and that is just about the best form on offer. This is another step up the ladder but he could be up to the challenge with the scope to make his mark in pattern-class events. I really like his profile for this contest but AABLAN might end up being the biggest danger. 

He looked professional in winning on debut at Newmarket and holds various Group 2 and Group 2 entries. I can see him running really well in leg 4 for the bang in-form Charlie Appleby team who has had four winners from his last 11 runners at this time. 

Leg 5 Selections: Classical Song, Beautiful Love

CLASSICAL SONG returned a highly-promising second on her debut at Glorious Goodwood and the winner has gone close in a Group 2 in France since. Open to natural improvement, with her trainer Ralph Beckett in great form, she has every chance of going one better. 

BEAUTIFUL LOVE also made a good start to her career when a keeping-on third over track and trip and is sure to have more to offer. Unless one of the newcomers turns out to be above-average, this should be fought out between these two. I can’t split them in leg 5 so both of them go on the list. 

Leg 6 Selections: Eminny, Spanish Blaze 

EMINNY has been solid in defeat since completing a double back in July and will be better suited to the return to seven furlongs. She should be difficult to keep out of the frame in leg 6. 

I also like the look of SPANISH BLAZE who backed up his Newbury success with a solid third at Yarmouth when last spotted. An opening mark of 76 is lenient and he should be in the mix.