3 minute read
Ascot going not worrying trainer
Martyn Meade feels Advertise should be able to handle the likely heavy ground at Ascot on Saturday when he bids to end a superb season on a high in the Qipco British Champions Sprint Stakes.
The Manton trainer does not expect the conditions to have an adverse effect on his chances as the son of Showcasing has coped with soft going in his work at home.
Advertise heads to the Berkshire course as one of the leading fancies for the six-furlong feature that kicks off the meeting, which is live on Sky Sports Racing.
"He's in good form so, touch wood, he's raring to go on Saturday," said Meade.
"I don't think the ground should inconvenience him too much.
"Obviously he's not run on any extremes of ground, but in his work at home, he has been on fairly soft and he acts pretty well on it so it it's not something on the evidence at home that I'd be worried about.
"I think the next couple of days they are forecast to be not too bad. Obviously one doesn't want holding ground, but I think soft will be fine and the good thing is we're the first race. I think that helps."
The three-year-old colt has yielded two Group One victories, in the Commonwealth Cup and the Prix Maurice de Gheest, from just four races this season to add one top-level success as a juvenile.
The Tin Man lifted this prestigious prize in 2016 and will be running in this race for the fifth year running.
James Fanshawe's seven-year-old showed he still retains plenty of ability when second to Hello Youmzain in the Haydock Sprint Cup.
His rider, Oisin Murphy, felt he was unlucky that day and is hoping to make amends on the big stage.
"He should have won at Haydock. He stumbled out of the gate, lost a couple of lengths. He can maybe do that in a middle-distance race, but not in a sprint," said Murphy.
"It's like a top 100-metre runner falling over out of the blocks. It really was a disadvantage and James Fanshawe is a very good trainer, so let's see what The Tin Man can do."
Sands Of Mali digs in to take the @ChampionsSeries British Champions Sprint Stakes at @Ascot pic.twitter.com/jN0wgPDGZN
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) October 20, 2018
Sands Of Mali defeated Harry Angel when springing a 28-1 surprise 12 months ago, but has yet to reach those heights this season.
He has not been seen since disappointing in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at the Royal meeting, but his trainer Richard Fahey believes the four-year-old could be coming back to his best.
"He came back from Ascot (last time) a little bit sore, a few little niggly problems that we've sorted," said the Musley Bank handler.
"He always works well, he's an exceptionally good work horse.
"I just feel that if we get our lad back, then I'm not too worried about anything. It was high on the priorities for this year, but we do need to get him back bouncing."
