Top weight may not stop Brioni at Sandown on Friday

April 25

Brioni is a lovely three-year-old who could well have Royal Ascot potential, but we’ll be a lot wiser after he has carried topweight in what looks a competitive handicap at Sandown on Friday.

Like Alan, Brioni has always been a favourite of mine, and he was an eye-catching third when making his debut over this course last September, being beaten by two more experienced youngsters.

He has since run two excellent races on Kempton’s polytrack, being beaten a neck in a novice before making it third time lucky in a mile maiden there at the start of the month.

I loved the way in which Brioni controlled the race from the front that day, and, though he now steps up to 10 furlongs, there are no doubts from his pedigree nor his style of racing about him staying the extra distance.

Rossa Ryan was delighted at Kempton, the first time he had ridden Brioni, and Alan felt that the performance was “just the way we wanted to start the season”.

Alan added:”Rossa kept it simple, jumping out and making all, and, though Brioni was always going to come on a lot for his first run back, I liked the way he picked up towards the finish.”