Sandown Preview: Alketios and Atzeni hold all the aces

Lighty-raced and progressive three-year-old Alketios looks weighted to take all the beating on his handicap debut in the 6.35 at Sandown this evening.

This Luca Cumani trained colt shaped well on his sole start as a juvenile when sixth in a Newbury maiden, and caught the eye on his seasonal reapperance when a keeping on six-length fourth of 12 to Wannabe Yours in a 1m contest at Nottingham.

The winner went on to bolt up on handicap debut by nine lengths and is now rated 100, while the runner-up and third home both scored next time out to give the form a solid look.

Alketios then had little difficulty opening his account in a mile maiden at Haydock last time out, where he only had to be pushed out to readily beat Taqneen by a length.

There was plenty to like about the way the son of Kavafi got the job done, and Alketios looks the type who has plenty more to offer now he’s going handicapping.

An opening mark of 81 could well be on the lenient side and, with the Cumani team in good form and Andrea Atzeni in the saddle, Alketios rates the standout bet on this card.

The trainer/jockey combiantion of Sir Michael Stoute and Ryan Moore are enjoying a terrific season, and Provenance can provide them with another winner in the 7f handicap (7.45).

This filly looked a very smart prospect when showing a good turn of hoof to score on debut at Kempton, and was then far from disgraced on handicap debut last time out when third to Reedcutter over a mile at this venue.

Provenance, the beautifully bred daughter of Galileo and half-sister to the stables’ very smart Group 1 winner Integral, raced very keenly in the early stages of that contest and got hampered a furlong from home before keeping on to be beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

The drop back to 7f looks sure to suit judged on that run and, with the hood fitted for the first time, this looks a nice opening for Provenance to get back to winning ways.

Perfect Muse opened her account in good style last time out, and looks up to defying a 6lb rise in the weights in the 5f handicap that closes proceedings (8.50).