Sandown set for a Dank day
The pair meet on the same terms as at Haydock but there is a case to be made for the runner-up to reverse that form.
Dank was the selection of this column on that occasion and while she didn’t deliver, she emerged from that race with real credit.
The winner was allowed to set a modest tempo and quickened up to go clear off the home bend.
She came back to the field before battling bravely to see off Dank, with an ever-increasing gap back to the remainder, which included some of today's rivals: Moone's My Name, Villeneuve and Irish History.
The small field allowed Ladys First make a pace of her own choosing and under a fine ride from Barry McHugh she emerged on top.
Drawn in stall one today, she again has an ideal chance to pop out and make the running but the much larger field will likely push her harder in the early stages.
There's every reason to expect she will be on the premises again but dictating will not be as easy.
The extra effort it will take to lead them along this time is likely to take its toll in the closing stages, at which point the habitually patiently ridden Dank should arrive full of running.
Richard Hughes is back on board Dank and while I'm not always enamoured by his style of riding, the filly’s style of running is well suited to his style in the saddle.
She would, of course, be aided by a strong pace and while there isn't an out-and-out front runner in the race, the pace will almost certainly be strong.
Drawn out in 13, Hughes will have little choice but to sit in behind for much of the journey. But that isn't an issue for the selection, who would be ridden this way regardless. She will get more cover than she did at Haydock and I expect her to come strong up the Sandown hill.
The three-year-old, a winner of two of her five runs to date, is open to plenty of improvement and we can expect to see some of that progress today.
Mahmood Al Zarooni makes a strong challenge with Falls Of Lora and Irish History.
The former beat Ladys First over course and distance back in early July and is 2lbs better off today. She was a shade disappointing when sixth of eight in a Deauville Group 3, over ten furlongs, last time out but the drop back in trip and return to this track may help.
Irish History ran her best race when third behind Fallen For You in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot but she is not the easiest of rides and has failed to repeat that performance in two runs since, including when last behind Ladys First at Haydock.
She would really benefit from a searching gallop and is not lightly dismissed, but, for all her talent, she is a riskier proposition than the selection.
Hugo Palmer’s Making Eyes is a progressive filly, whose victory in a Listed race at Vichy puts her in with a chance.
She holds an entry in the Group 1 Sun Chariot at Newmarket later in the month and if she’s to realise the ambition of running in that race, she will have to go close here.
She can be a bit free-going but she stays well and should be involved in the finish.
Overall it’s a terrifically competitive race and while I would be far more confident if a really strong pace was guaranteed, there is more than enough in Dank’s favour to make her the selection.
It won’t be run at a crawl - which is crucial - and the uphill climb to the finish should favour those who finish strongly. She’s open to plenty of improvement and the return of Richard Hughes, who rode her to victory in a handicap at Ascot back in July, is another positive.
This summer has shown us that taking the ground for granted is the act of a foolish punter and were the ground to turns soft, my enthusiasm for Dank would also be dampened.
But we’re promised that this is the beginning of a period of sustained good weather and perhaps some consistently good ground.
With that in mind, Dank makes rock-solid each-way appeal at around 11-2.
