Kevin McAuliffe can spring a surprise at long odds by landing the Sandown Futurity Conditions Stakes at the Esher track today. Having already having scored one big juvenile success this season with Tippit Boy in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot, the trainer looks set to strike again with Smooth Sailing. Though the two-year-old disappointed last time out when down the field at York in a hot nursery he looked a little unlucky in running that day.
As that was his first outing since a three-month break after a gelding operation, it would be no surprise to see the grey come on leaps and bounds for the run.
And although Smooth Sailing remains unproven at a mile, being related to winners over hurdles suggests that stamina should not pose too much of a problem, particularly in this small field.
On the form of his three-quarters-of-a-length second to Chips at Kempton back in May, when subsequent big-race winners Another Fantasy, Central Park and Bemsha Swing were behind him, he would surely take all the beating in this race.
Likely hotpot will be the Frankie Dettori-partnered Setteen who looked decent when winning at Ascot in July.
But rested since then, he might just find that Smooth Sailing can outbattle him close home and shock favourite-backers.
Although the form of lady riders' races may sometimes prove of dubious worth, the manner of Sandicliffe's five-length success over Mezzoramio at Newmarket put James Toller's filly into many notebooks.
Despite running off a 7lb higher mark, the handicapper looks to have given Sandicliffe every chance to show that there is still plenty more improvement to come in the Danny Wright Handicap at Yarmouth.
Claimed out of Barry Hills's yard after winning at Folkestone in May, she was given a short break and some time to mature by her new handler before looking tremendously unlucky when clipping the heels of another runner and being lucky to stay on her feet at Windsor when going well.
But that Newmarket run proved that she was worth following and now that connections look to have found her ideal trip, she can score in the hands of this season's leading apprentice Royston Ffrench.
Guesstimation is a reliable performer in low-grade events and looks ready to complete a hat-trick in the Newton Selling Stakes.
