It was fun when the late-April meeting at Sandown Park mixed Flat and National Hunt racing on the same afternoon, but it is difficult to argue with the move to partition the meeting into separate days for the two codes when it produces a card as deep and intriguing as the one at the Esher track today.
From the Esher Cup at the top of the card, when the Derby-entry Atty Persse (1.50) makes his seasonal debut, to the handicap at the other end, which was won by the subsequent Irish Derby winner Jack Hobbs two years ago, there are fascinating and potentially significant races throughout the afternoon. Atty Persse is definitely worth a bet at around 3-1 on the basis of his sole, successful outing last season, when he won over today’s course and distance in a very impressive time for a maiden event, and Naseem (5.10) should take the closer for John Gosden, who saddled Jack Hobbs two years ago and also holds a strong hand in the Classic Trial earlier in the afternoon.
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