Nick Luck’s Blog: Paddington’s rivals will have to grin and bear it

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck gives his expert analysis of Saturday’s cards from Sandown and Haydock and has found some big priced fancies on both cards.

Sandown, Saturday

EQUALITY has been a deeply frustrating customer over the years, but can take the TV opener at Sandown on Eclipse Day (1.50pm) at 13/2. The talent has always been there in fits and starts, but he looked a different ball game under a huge weight at Windsor, which may well have owed something to the fitting of a hood (first time an irrelevance in a draw bias race at Haydock). He’s nicely drawn here to track the pace on the far side, and I’ll take him to use this as a springboard to being a regular in all the top sprints.

OUZO must have a very solid claim at 15/2 in the Challenge (2.25pm). He was third in this when rather unlucky last year and runs from the same mark. He comes into this arguably in even better form after his excellent effort in the Hunt Cup, and has the draw and ground seemingly in his favour. The stable has had a winner this week, and this one is sure to run well.

KARSAVINA might just be a sneaky one at a price of 16/1 in the Distaff (3.00pm). I liked her when she broke her maiden, and thought she ran a nice race in the Nell Gwyn. She got lost in the Guineas, but she ran with much more credit in the Sandringham than her price suggests, as she was marooned right in the middle of the course having made some quite taking headway through the race. This uphill finish should suit her at this trip, and her odds are way too big in a race with a thin top to the market.

PADDINGTON gets the narrow vote in the Eclipse (3.40pm) at Evens. My feeling is that this will turn into a relative test of speed at the trip. This, combined with there being every chance that he can improve over an extra quarter mile, plus Emily Upjohn minus her hood and the Ascot form looking strong, suggests that he’ll be tough to beat with the three-year-olds’ allowance.

Haydock, Saturday

BANDERAS might be another big race winner for Neil Callan in the staying race at Haydock (2.05pm) at 15/2. There are some really spicy pedigrees on show here with unexposed horses that could make up into stakes performers, but they all have to give weight to my selection, who is surely well handicapped on his second to Klondike in a Newbury maiden, where he travelled best. Cheekpieces go on here, the ground will suit better, and there should be quite a bit more to come.

SEA SILK ROAD can follow up her recent course success in the Lancashire Oaks (2.40pm) at 9/2. As I wrote before that victory, her seasonal debut smacked of needing the race badly, and she can continue to edge her way up to top company here, particularly against a favourite who would never inspire me to take short odds.

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR has a nice look to him in the Old Newton Cup (3.15pm) at 11/1. I don’t much like his draw, but he’ll be buried away and come through horses and – unlike last time behind Cumulonimbus – there will be plenty of pace to run at. He’s better off with that rival anyway, and should get much closer this time if he doesn’t fluff the start.