Jamie Spencer gives his views on Sandown, Belmont and Monmouth

The more you do these US trips the more used to them you become. I’ve been coming to Belmont now for 10 years so I know most of the riders and it’s something I look forward to and obviously when you’ve got a chance it helps!

Coral-Eclipse

A lot depends on the weather first and foremost. I think for The Fugue drawn one will mean it will be a difficult race for William as she likes to sit close to the pace but if you get stuck on the rail at Sandown, as Ouija Board did a few years ago, it can be a nightmare of a track to ride. It will be interesting to see what tactics William uses on The Fugue. I imagine his priority will be to get off the rail and ride his race from there. Night of Thunder on pedigree should stay. An interesting one might be Trading Leather back at ten furlongs. He’s a high class horse Trading Leather but he was very disappointing first time up.

If the rain comes though the one you’d have to be on is Kingston Hill. I can’t believe he is such a big price versus Night Of Thunder given his run in The Derby. Sandown is a very stiff track and you know he’s going to stay the trip well. The three year olds look a decent crop on ratings but they’ve all still got to go to beat The Fugue. But then you’ve got to remember that last year The Fugue ran at Royal Ascot and then completely bombed out in the Eclipse. No matter what Championship race you run in you never have an easy race so it will be tough for her. It will be run at a very strong pace as you’ve the pace maker Somewhat and Mukhadram, who I’m sure they’ll make plenty of use of. It will be a true run race and you’ll need to get the trip well, and The Fugue will as she’s got good mile and half form but also plenty of pace for a mile and a quarter. If she gets a smooth trip then the rest of them have a bit of ground to make up to beat her. Basically if it stays dry I think she’s the one they all have to beat but if it rains then Kingston Hill will be equally hard to beat.

Coral Charge

Stepper Point has the form in the book but something always seems to come by him. He’s drawn out a bit wide so he may have to work a bit hard to get to the lead. He’s still the one they all have to beat on ratings but I wouldn’t be surprised if something ran him down late. Wind Fire won at the track last time out. She likes Sandown and is 2 from 2 there and should go well. It’s a very open race, and you could probably have a few stabs at it. Stepper Point found plenty at Ascot as I got to him on Hot Streak but he rallied and held on for second so you’d have to respect him on that showing.

Coral Challenge

Gabrial’s Kaka ran well in the Royal Hunt Cup and he’s another who would be helped if it rained. This isn’t the strongest of races and you know he gets the trip well so I thought he’d have a really good chance in this. The strength and depth of this race isn’t near the Royal Hunt Cup so he really ought to go well. He is still a very reasonable price. Stoute’s horse Russian Realm is not really a glutton for the trip. He’s basically been running 7 furlongs and has been beaten at both Sandown and Ascot over a mile. I think seven furlongs may be the best trip for him.

Coral Distaff

Queen Catrine has an obvious chance on the form book. It’s a different test for her as there are just six runners and she won’t get a strong pace compared to Royal Ascot where she did get a strong pace to run at. I don’t think there’ll be as much between her and Crowley’s Law this time. I liked Crowley’s Law before Ascot and thought she just raced too keenly, and given the strong pace she paid for it. Queen Catrine is probably the best filly in the race and should be hard to beat

Coral Marathon

Domination was very impressive at Ascot and came from a long way back. There was obviously a strong pace there but he was a worthy winner. This is a different task today having gone from running in a handicap over two and a half miles to running in a Listed race over two miles but he’s a classy horse and even over jumps he’s shown a turn of foot which will suit Sandown. There’s not stand out horse in the race. He’s got a few pounds to find with Whiplash Willie and Havana Beat but I thought Domination would be quite hard to beat.

Jamie