Room Service can deliver at Sandown

By Gideon Brooks, Press Association

Saffie Osborne proved she belongs at the top table with a brilliant St Leger win at the weekend and can add to her growing reputation aboard Room Service in the Trainor Stone & Tile Fortune Stakes at Sandown on Wednesday.

After becoming the first woman to win a British Classic, steering Highwayman to victory in the Doncaster highlight, Osborne was keen to pay tribute to her parents for their support in her rise to the top.

Room Service provides an immediate opportunity for more tangible payback in the best race on Sandown’s card given the five-year-old is now trained by her father Jamie.

The gelding was a good servant for Kevin Ryan, winning a valuable £300,000 sales race at Doncaster as a two-year-old, a Listed race at three and being placed at Group Three level last season.

But after starting to lose his focus a little he was gelded and sent to Osborne for a change of scenery, emerging from a break to win a valuable handicap at Newcastle with a tongue tie and first-time blinkers.

This is a first try at a mile but he has been finishing off well over seven furlongs and the step up in distance could bring about more improvement.

First-time blinkers did the trick for Edwin Hubble over course and distance two runs ago and the return to Esher’s stiff one mile two furlongs trip in the Trainor Stone & Tile Handicap can get him back in the winning groove.

Brian Meehan’s three-year-old was bumped up 3lb for that narrow win and appeared to be anchored by it at Newbury last time but in a slow run race he was caught flat-footed and with ground to make up when the pace quickened before staying on really well for third.

With a stronger pace and a stiffer finish at Sandown, he is taken to resume progress.

Saint Of Seville is beautifully-bred by Baaeed out of French Oaks winner Star Of Seville and is taken to make a winning debut in the Trainor Stone & Tile EBF Maiden Stakes.

Despite this being a tough track for newcomers, John and Thady Gosden have not been averse to starting off their decent ones in Esher and with those that have run already making limited appeal this looks booked for a debutant.

Yarmouth stages a decent card and its highlight, the Listed EBF Stallions John Musker Fillies’ Stakes, can go to Gosden for a fifth time in 11 years with Morrophore.

The five-year-old disappointed last time at York finishing down the field behind Prizeland over a mile and a half, a run connections initially put down to the rain-softened ground on the Knavesmire.

On the face of it, a return to soft conditions here at Yarmouth may look puzzling but it suggests another excuse has been found and with Ryan Moore retaining the ride and the mare dropping back in trip to one mile two furlongs she is taken to bounce back.

At Beverley, Fierce looks a decent shout in the We Are Christmas Party Central Handicap over the minimum trip.

Paul Midgley’s six-year-old is making a habit of hitting the woodwork rather than the back of the net but looks on a workable mark on 68 and ran on resolutely off a 1lb higher mark back over this track and trip in June.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings
TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

SANDOWN: Race 1: 14.45 Good Earth, Race 2: 15.20 Altius, Race 3: 15.55 Saint Of Seville, Race 4: 16.30 ROOM SERVICE (NAP), Race 5: 17.05 Enchant, Race 6: 17.40 Edwin Hubble, Race 7: 18.10 Sweet Horizon.

YARMOUTH: Race 1: 14.56 Three Non Blondes, Race 2: 15.31 Bidsta, Race 3: 16.06 Daddy Star, Race 4: 16.41 Morrophore, Race 5: 17.12 Enoch, Race 6: 17.45 Alice De Clare, Race 7: 18.15 Court Drive.

BEVERLEY: Race 1: 15.08 Cosmos Raj, Race 2: 15.43 Emerald Bay, Race 3: 16.18 Duty’s Call, Race 4: 16.48 Floral Maid, Race 5: 17.18 Fierce, Race 6: 17.50 Roku Nana, Race 7: 18.20 Copper And Five, Race 8: 18.50 Abu Royal.

KELSO: Race 1: 17.25 Scots Poet, Race 2: 17.55 Hoe Joly Smoke, Race 3: 18.25 Loriko, Race 4: 18.55 Fairlawn Skipper, Race 5: 19.25 Conquer The Breeze, Race 6: 19.55 Cape Warrior.

ALL TO COME: Room Service and Edwin Hubble (Sandown, Races 4 and 6).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za