Juliette's weekly frolic
Standing in the 'Royal Box' at Sandown Park as the winter sports enthusiasts slid gracefully over the dry ski slope above the rhododendron walk, it was hard to believe that things had come so far since the bulldozers moved in last July. To complement what is arguably the finest natural amphitheatre of any racecourse in Britain, a splendid edifice has now risen from the rubble of the old stands, in all the glory of highly polished, pre stressed concrete. After a morning spent clambering up and down ladders inside the massive interior, that will shortly house bars, restaurants and new-style tote facilities for all three enclosures, it was easy to understand why my chanerons from the Levy Board see Sandown as the course all Europe will look to for inspiration. Finished off in marble from Connemara and containing 16 boxes — long since snapped up at prices that make Ascot appear cheap — perhaps the best news of all is that entrance fees, including Sandown's bargain membership rate of £18 for 25 days, are to remain unaltered after the unveiling in midSeptember.
Meanwhile the Sandown show carries on at the Levy Board's sister course, Kempton, and the transferred 'Ginger Wine' day this Saturday promises a far better turn out both of horses and humans than Kempton could muster for one of her own fixtures last weekend. Having been hopelessly addicted
to Messrs Stones comforting brew since the corresponding , meeting last year, I feel a , • special affection for their sponsored 'chase,. as must that prince of the permit holders, Mr Edward Courage, whose Royal Relief bids for a stable treble.. , He carries the same weight as last year, but has not shown much fire lately and must concede 18Ib to Fortina's Palace,' who easily disposed of Inch Arran over course and distance last month. The latter has significantly declined a re-match despite meeting ' Fortina ' on 71b better terms.
The rest of the card appears, like all southern Saturdays, to be monopolised by Messrs Winterand Price. In the opening hurdle the former's Nantar carries 111b less than when beating Harbour Bar at Fontwell, while Killiney will no doubt complete the Lambourn double 90 minutes later. As for Captain Price, the presence of his ante-post Schweppes favourite Moonlight Bay and Champion Hurdle hone Ruisselet should do great things for the 'gate.' They'll no doubt both come home alone, but I'm sorely tempted by Chanman's Peak in the ' Oteley., Not having, won a hurdle since July 1, 1971,' he is set to receive a mammoth 161b from Ruisselvt and leaving the Price magic out of the reckoning, this would be a gift for a horse of his calibre.
Assets: £93.08. Outlay f'.3 tcfl win Fortina's Palace, Chapman's Peak, Nantar. Five to follow,' assets: £13.52.
Previous page
