Ratings Update: Sandown and the Curragh

The pick of Saturday’s action in the UK came from Sandown, where Veracious (remains on 112p) landed her first pattern-level win in the Group 3 Atalanta Stakes. With Laugh Aloud (now 116+) ridden much more patiently than usual and clearly shaping as if in need of the run, Veracious was left with a straightforward task and didn't need to improve to get off the mark for the year down in grade, the form looking that of an average renewal of the race. Veracious is still likely to progress further, though there's every chance, back in Group 1 company, that she will be overbet next time. Runner-up Awesometank (up 4 lb to 110) ran well upped in grade, as usual impressing with her attitude, just outclassed in the closing stages.

The following Solario Stakes was viewed beforehand largely as the unveiling of a potential superstar, Too Darn Hot (up from 96P to 118p). That was no surprise given he has a 24-carat pedigree and was representing a stable with a fine record in the race, but Too Darn Hot overcame that weight of expectation and then some, his performance among the best in the race's history, clearly deserving to be talked of in the same breath as Kingman, not far off the level, with one more run under his belt, that Raven's Pass achieved in winning by seven lengths in 2007.

A scorching win by Too Darn Hot 🔥🔥🔥

Watch back the action on @itvhub #ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/doVB9Us98f

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 1, 2018

Too Darn Hot established himself as the leader of his generation with a very smart effort on just his second start, loads to like about the style and the substance of the performance (best timefigure of the weekend - see table below - and also the best by a juvenile this season) after appearing to be slightly outpaced three furlongs out. As he's clearly fully effective at seven furlongs, the Dewhurst may well be a more tempting option than the Racing Post Trophy, with thoughts of the Guineas as well as the Derby clearly in connections' minds (who have also nominated the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster as a potential port of call).

Runner-up Arthur Kitt (up 4 lb to 107p) was no match for the winner, but few will be, and he ran a fine race after 10 weeks off, sticking to his task well after the winner had swept by and likely to build on this again. He will be suited by a mile, well worth his place in a pattern event at that trip this autumn.

An honourable mention also goes to Global Applause (up 7 lb to 112), who won the opening sprint easily on his first start since leaving Ed Dunlop after four months off. He’s lightly raced for his age and was having just his fourth start in a handicap; he's likely to look well in under a penalty in the Ayr Gold Cup, though it's possible five furlongs will prove his optimum trip, the listed Scarborough Stakes at Doncaster perhaps an alternative.

Over at Beverley, it was the biggest event of the year at the track, the catchy title of the Bullet almost giving the race a superficially added status. It's only listed class, as this form corresponds, whereas Take Cover (remains on 114+) still belongs in Group sprints.

Take Cover makes it back-to-back victories in the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes at @Beverley_Races

Watch the action LIVE on @ITV4 pic.twitter.com/jFfwaqUQXK

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) September 1, 2018

Take Cover had beaten all bar Battaash in the King George, so this was well within his means, getting across from stall 9 the hardest part, less so in practice (broke fast) than in theory. He never looked like getting caught, all pretty straightforward for him, but doing it at his age obviously adds a praiseworthy dimension; the same sort of performance was lift-off for his 2017 campaign, when he completed a hat-trick including the World Trophy. Runner-up Mythmaker (110) ran up to his best on his first start at five furlongs.

At Chester, Duretto (remains on 117) showed plenty of resolution to overhaul the well-ridden Hochfield (112) in a tactical renewal of the listed Chester Stakes. It's probably not the most robust piece of form, things really only winding up from three furlongs out, but Duretto was still good enough to overcome circumstances.

Meanwhile, Cenotaph (up 6 lb to 118) won the big sprint handicap at Chelmsford, though it was the only race to attract more than nine runners at the course’s most valuable meeting. However, it was a fittingly competitive turnout for a very valuable pot, a third of them last-time-out winners. Cenotaph ended up caught wide in mid-field from his less-than-ideal draw, but he cruised into it on the home turn and sustained his run once shaken up to lead entering the final furlong, well on top at the finish thanks to his potent turn of foot. A rise in grade awaits.

While Sandown featured a standout performance from Too Darn Hot, racegoers at the Curragh were treated to their own highlight as Ten Sovereigns (now 114P from 106P) made short work of a quick rise in grade in the Round Tower Stakes, the race over as a contest as soon as he eased to the front under two furlongs out. He’s as good a two-year-old as has been seen in Ireland this year, and will be the one to beat in the Middle Park next time, plenty more to come from him when the situation requires it.

A colt who could be destined for the top - all roads to the Middle Park Stakes now for the unbeaten Ten Sovereigns... pic.twitter.com/b4GBYavvjy

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) September 3, 2018

Elsewhere on the card, the well-backed Just Wonderful (up 5 lb to 100p) quickened away from a pair of her stable companions to win the Flame of Tara Stakes convincingly, while the similarly-popular I’m So Fancy (remains on 113) did well to concede first run before picking up well once in the clear to run down a progressive three-year-old in the Snow Fairy Fillies’ Stakes. Runner-up Desert Diamond’s (113p) wide trip possibly caught her out late on, though there was no disgrace whatsoever in going down to another who's had a fine season.

Kenya (up from 106? to 115), one of four winners on the card for Aidan O’Brien, produced a decidedly smart performance as he became just the fourth three-year-old winner of the Irish Cambridgeshire this century. He proved last year that he goes well in the mud so will be dangerous to dismiss wherever he turns up this autumn.

In France, Solider’s Call (remains on 104) led home a British one-two when beating Queen of Bermuda (98) by a length in the Prix d’Arenberg at Chantilly on Saturday. He didn't need to improve on his Royal Ascot form (won the Windsor Castle) to land the odds and looks set to remain at five furlongs, with the Flying Childers or the Prix de l'Abbaye his likely next target. Jackfinbar (now 110 from 98) stayed on best to win the Prix de Lutece at Longchamp 24 hours later, producing a career-best effort in the process.