Powers can Defy Newton Weight
Man On The Spot previews Saturday's scheduled terrestrial television action at Haydock and Sandown.
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14:05 Sandown Park: Coral Charge
Elusivity beat both Pabusar and Medicean Man when conceding weight over an extra furlong in the Wokingham at Ascot and will be fancied to confirm the form here, though Medicean Man may have been feeling the effects of a tremendous run in the King's Stand Stakes four days earlier when he finished just ahead of Spirit Quartz, NIGHT CARNATION and Caledonia Lady.
Andrew Balding's filly didn't get any cover that day and was a bit keen but that shouldn't be a problem here and she'll be scything through the field late on granted luck in-running. She gets the nod though Judge 'n Jury took the step up to Group 3 company in his stride at the Curragh, only going down by a half-a-length to Definightly, and is another for the short-list along with last month's course and distance second Free Zone.
14:20 Haydock Park: bet365 Handicap
Atlantic Sport bounced back to form with a big run in the Buckingham Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and will be fancied to go close here as Imperial Djay, Louis The Pious, Docofthebay and Clockmaker all finished well behind. He should confirm that running but ESPRIT DE MIDAS looks to have as good a chance and may start a bigger price. Dean Ivory's charge went close behind Sam Nombulist in soft ground at York last month and looks like getting similar conditions here. Al Muheer seems in the handicapper's grip now while Fair Trade has struggled since returning from a long absence.
14:40 Sandown Park: Coral Challenge
TRADE COMMISSIONER appears to be improving at a rate of knots and his stable continues in fine form. Despite dropping in trip, the Montjeu gelding never gave favourite backers an anxious moment at Salisbury 10 days ago and a 12lb weight rise is fully justified.
He can confirm that running with Vainglory and Norse Blues and win again before taking on better opposition in the autumn. Captain Bertie's win in the Newbury Spring Cup worked out well but he has a bit to find with Field Of Dream on their run together in the Royal Hunt Cup while Classic Colori is difficult to catch right and probably still a few pounds too high in the weights. Kyllachy Star has place claims, however, and the consistent Spa's Dancer is one of four previous C&D winners facing the starter.
14:55 Haydock Park: bet365 Lancashire Oaks
Shimmering Surf won a Group 3 race over C&D last month when beating Set To Music, Mohedian Lady and a below-par Myplacelater. She's fancied to confirm superiority and makes more appeal than recent Ribblesdale fourth Salford Art. Great Heavens is progressing well but needs another big step forward having won a Listed event at Newbury last time if she's to beat the likes of French raider Aquamarine.
The latter landed a Group 3 at Chantilly in April but the vote goes to ex-compatriot TESTOSTERONE. She won a Group 2 at Saint-Cloud last year before finishing runner-up to Galikova in the Prix Vermeille and ran too free in the Hardwicke Stakes at Ascot on her debut for Ed Dunlop. She should settle better today and is the one to beat on her best form.
15:10 Sandown Park: Coral Distaff
Starscope is the form pick here on her second in the Qipco 1000 Guineas and subsequent run behind stablemate Fallen For You in the Coronation Stakes at Ascot. But you just worry that she's a filly without a trip as she struggles to find an extra gear over 1m and didn't appear to last home over 1m2f at Newbury in May.
At the likely odds, we'll take her on with ARSAADI who has now found her best distance judged on her second in the Sandringham Handicap at the Royal meeting when Ladys First was more than two lengths away in third and Way Too Hot, Fillionaire and Kinetica further behind. Kunooz hasn't raced since finishing behind Falls Of Lora in a conditions event at Ascot in September while the winner has been disappointing this year since winning at Dubai in February. Bana Wu has ability but may just need this.
15:25 Haydock Park: bet365 Old Newton Cup
Decent hurdler Lexi's Boy is presumably expected to improve further on the Flat but he'll need to in this company off a 10lb higher mark having made all at Carlisle last time. Genuine soft ground may prove a hindrance to the progressive Franciscan, who scored at York in May, and Salisbury winner Quiz Mistress was well beaten the last time she raced in this grade.
Cry Fury is another upped in class but Easy Terms has won six of her last seven starts and looks to have every chance having scored in similar company at York last time. Parlour Games won three times last year and the Godolphin colt is another with claims but a chance is taken on top weight ALLIED POWERS.
He was winning a Group 3 race at Longchamp as recently as May and, back in handicap company here for the first time since 2009 with a 7lb claimer helping his cause, Michael Bell's charge could go very close at a big price though course specialist Number Theory can't be discounted.
15:45 Sandown Park: Coral-Eclipse
So You Think's defection and subsequent retirement has robbed this Group 1 of a little gloss but it now looks a lot more open. Farhh is likely to start favourite now on the back of a remarkable run behind So You Think in the Prince Of Wales's Stakes where he reared as the stalls opened and was hampered on entering the straight but finished fastest of all to take third.
That was his first run in a Group race and first try over 1m2f so it was a fine effort and he'll take some stopping with more luck in-running here. Godolphin are also represented by City Style and Monterosso, who are decent performers in their own right, while Twice Over tries to repeat his victory of 2010 and has every chance if back to his best.
Last year's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Nathaniel is another top-class candidate, even though he hasn't had a run this year, while Bonfire was sixth in the Epsom Derby and won the Dante over this trip earlier. Cityscape had City Style back in third when winning the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free in March but it's just possible that CRACKERJACK KING has been underestimated.
He's joined Marco Botti since beating the normally consistent Sri Putra more than 10 lengths when easily landing a Group 1 at Capannelle in May. Last year's German Derby winner Waldpark was also well beaten so the form has a solid look about it and he should start at decent odds in this company.