Racing: Uphill struggle is just fine for Quazar

Graham Bradley, banned last week by the Jockey Club for eight years, would like to be seen in a rosier glow than that which the harsh spotlight of investigation has thrown on him. "I am not the rogue that many would portray me as being," he said yesterday, as he confirmed he would appeal against the ban. "I have, in fact, helped numerous jockeys and others throughout my career and have been engaged in dozens and dozens of charitable events."

Some punters may not feel so charitably inclined towards Bradley, but there was never any doubting his genuine talents as a jockey, nor his recent achievements in his second career as a bloodstock agent and adviser. Chief recipients of that advice have been the Macca and Growler partnership of Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler, owners of the short-priced favourite for this afternoon's William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown, Samon.

Bradley's skill has been in leading the way in tapping into the undervalued German bloodstock market. He also provided the former Liverpool teammates with a simple but extremely effective piece of advice: "Send the horses to Martin Pipe, he's a genius."

The results have been spectacular and Samon owes his slot at the head of the market for today's event almost entirely to Pipe's outstanding record in the race. Without Pipe as the trainer, the form book certainly would not supply any confidence in Samon, who beat only one other horse home when he was tried at a similarly competitive level in the Royal & SunAlliance Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

At the same meeting, Quazar acquitted himself rather better in the Triumph Hurdle and has since proved his wellbeing in a hot handicap back at Prestbury Park. The uphill finish here will hold no fears for Quazar (3.05) and his trainer, Jonjo O'Neill, could hardly be in better form with three winners yesterday.

The chief attraction at Sandown, though, is the Tingle Creek Chase, in which the outstanding two-milers of recent years Edredon Bleu and Flagship Uberalles face their first challenge from the leading novice at the trip last season, Moscow Flyer and another attack from a persistent pursuer in Cenkos.

The going will be the key to this event, with Edredon Bleu,who sparkled in his return at Exeter, deemed to need fast ground to reproduce that form. With cold, dry, blustery conditions forecast he may just get the going he requires, but that would also suit CENKOS (nap 2.30), who beat both Edredon Bleu and Flagship Uberalles over the course and distance on his final run last season after the unorthodox preparation of a trip to race in Japan. Cenkos certainly seems a revitalised horse and, at the 8-1 available with Coral this morning, is a far better value bet than the market leaders.

At Chepstow, two old stagers in See More Business and Go Ballistic, who are approaching their 13th and 14th birthdays respectively, may have to give way to Supreme Glory (next best 2.20), who demonstrated his liking for the course when winning last year's Welsh National.

In Ireland tomorrow, J P McManus's First Gold would be an appropriate winner of the John Durkan Memorial Chase, a race named after the man who would have trained McManus's Istabraq had he not been claimed by cancer. Native Upmanship may be the one to spoil the story.

* The leading Irish hurdler Ballyhampshire Boy has been put down as a result of injuries sustained at Navan last month when he fell at the final flight when upsides the winner Limestone Lad. "It's a terrible blow," his trainer, Sean Aherne, said.