Racing: Congress to gather cash

IT MAY lack the history of the Lincoln or the cachet of the Royal Hunt Cup, but the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy has money on its side. The richest handicap run so far this season take place today and, while other meetings are suffering from a runner drought, the pounds 50,770 first prize for the Sandown race has attracted a field that is substantial in size and quality.

The breadth of talent means that a short list of possible winners can easily run into double figures and the hardest name to strike off is that of Charlo. John Gosden has already saddled the winner of the Northumberland Plate, at pounds 42,159 the third most valuable handicap this season (the Lincoln, with pounds 45,552 to the winner, comes second). Gosden appears to have a handicap snip here with Charlo, whose five-length demolition of a smart field at Ascot came too late to affect his weight here by any more than a mandatory, but derisory, 4lb penalty.

But the snip is certain to start at a trimmed down price which, given the competitiveness of the race, makes him distinctly unappealing. Better to chance a little each-way on one or two from this list: Fire Top, second in the race last year; Montpelier Boy, gambled on for the Lincoln and from a stable with a good record in big handicaps; Marine Diver, first home of those drawn high in the Hunt Cup; Bayaireg, improving fast now that he has been taught to settle; Courtline Jester, another on the upgrade who can be forgiven a flop in the Derby Italiano; and Congress (3.10), from the Michael Stoute stable that sent out Iroko, Loud Appeal and Rambo Dancer to win the equivalent race in 1985, '87 and '88 respectively.

Congress has run just once this season, when made favourite for a small race at Leicester, but she established her credentials in a difficult nursery at Newmarket last autumn and could prove hard to pass. If illustrious antecedents count for anything in racing - they usually confer more status in the stands than on the track - she is home already. Out of a mare that is a daughter of Secretariat, her sire is Dancing Brave, whose reward for the most breathtaking Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe victory of the Eighties has been exile to Japan.

The fitness of the horses in the handicap sprint is not in doubt - all eight have run in the last seven days - but the mental fitness of anyone who risks substantial investment in such a tricky contest must be questionable. Most have raced against each other and the mathematics favours those who have been unsuccessful and thus escaped a penalty. But Bodari's penalty is negated by the allowance of his apprentice rider, and Ned's Bonanza (4.15), who has had less racing than the rest this season, may be the one with the most improvement in him.

The all-weather tracks are proving more popular with trainers in summer than in winter and with sun-baked turf across the country the size of today's Southwell card reflects the trend. Lord Huntingdon has already shown through Colour Sergeant, the winner of the Royal Hunt Cup, that he is not afraid to send good horses to race on the sand. LADY ROXANNE (nap 3.45) had a trip to the Nottinghamshire track last time and can step up several grades at once by taking the mile handicap.

(Photograph omitted)