Sandown Preview: Directorship weighted to strike

Directorship has some good form at Sandown and can take advantage of a fall in the weights to land the 1m handicap on this evening’s card (7.40).

The Patrick Chammings trained gelding is a dual course and distance winner, and was last successful when landing a class 3 handicap at Newmarket off a mark of 92 last May.

The eight-year-old ran on strongly that day to score by 3 1/2 lengths, and was then from from disgraced when finishing a 5 1/2 length 16 of 28 to Belgian Bill in the ultra-competitive class 2 Royal Hunt Cup at Ascot off 99.

The son of Diktat has failed to hit the frame in five subsequent starts, all in class 2 contests, but now drops back into class into class 3 company off a much reduced mark of 89.

That is 3lb lower than when last successful, and gives Directorship every chance from a handicapping perspective of getting back on the winning trail.

Trainer Henry Candy has a good strike rate at the track, and his White Russian looks capable of going well at a big price in the 7f handicap (6.35).

The filly shaped with promise in two maiden runs last year, most notably on debut at Newbury when a staying on seventh of 12 to Extremity.

The winner is a well-regarded sort rated officially rated 84, the runner-up Maxi T has won twice this year, the third home Magnus Maximus has won twice since and is now rated 100, and the fourth home Dutch Romance also scored next time up and is rated 90.

That is strong form in the context of this class 5 handicap, and makes White Russian’s current mark of 63 look potentially lenient.

Although the daughter of Sir Percy has been well-beaten in two of her three starts this season, those efforts have come over 1m 2f and the drop back to 7f could well see her in a far better light.

Golden Journey opened his account in good style last time out and looks up to defying a 4lb rise in the weights in the 1m 2f handicap (8.15).

The Clive Cox trained gelding landed some decent bets when relishing the step up in trip to beat Hedge Fund by 3/4 of a length in an apprentice handicap at Goodwood, hitting the front two from home and showing a good attitude to get the job done.