Ryan Moore previews Nostrum and Portland and his four other rides at Sandown on Friday, including Hand Of God in the Esher Cup Handicap

Ryan Moore has some big chances among his six booked rides at Sandown on Friday.

Hand Of God has a big chance in the Esher Cup Handicap, while Nostrum and Portland can go well in the Group races. 

Here, Betfair ambassador Moore previews his rides ahead of Friday’s races.

Jockey Ryan Moore has some big chances among his six booked rides at Sandown 

Sandown

13:50 Hand Of God

The stable is going pretty well and this Churchill colt looks fairly handicapped on his Newmarket win on fast ground last October, a race in which I rode the runner-up and the form of which has worked out well. He has a good pedigree and a fair bit going for him here, though it’s a tricky handicap to call.

14:25 Okeechobee

This is another horse from the same yard and he made a very good return after a long break – I actually rode him in two of his wins back in 2022 – when second to a Group 1 horse in Dubai Honour at Kempton. You can make a case of sorts for all seven in here, but I’d like to think he has improvement, which is needed, in him given his lightly-raced profile. He certainly shaped very well behind me at Kempton.

15:00 Nostrum

This is a pretty strong renewal, with the likes of Lord North in here, but I hope we haven’t seen the best of my colt just yet. He won on his debut here and he was also very impressive first time up last season when winning on the July course. He didn’t progress from that, but he is right in the mix on that Newmarket win, as he felt a very good horse that day, and one well up to this grade.

15:35 Portland

Arabian Crown would be the obvious horse to beat here but Portland was placed in Group 1 company at two and he looked to shape okay when second on his return to what could be a very smart filly. He has a definite form chance, and he has the benefit of a run, and hopefully he will get the extra 2f.

16:10 De Ville

She will need to step up on her fourth at Wolverhampton to be winning but she is a No Nay Never filly out of a very well-related mare, and I’d say we can expect improvement from her, going up in trip.

16:45 Endosser

He is in fair enough form, and he looks to be on a fair mark. Hopefully, he has as good a chance as any in an open and competitive handicap.