15:30 Sandown

Friday 28 April 2017

All13:5014:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:10

bet365 Mile (Group 2)

Off time: 15:32 | Winning time: 1m 44.24s

(6)

Cougar Mountain^p,t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 9-4| J: R L Moore| T: A P O'Brien| OR: 115

5/1

Last eight runs have come at Group 1 or 2 level but is rather tough to catch right but is useful on his day as he showed when winning the Group 2 Joel Stakes at Newmarket in September over a mile. Beaten at the same level the next time out merely underlining his inconsistency and looked to be flying too high in Group 1's out in Meydan.

Form: 80-2863

(7)

Gabrial²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: L Dettori| T: R A Fahey| OR: 108

10/1

Campaigned vigorously last season keeping the highest company on many occasions (usually proved beyond him) and he needed the drop in grade to Listed company to regain the winning thread. Highly tried again after that it was only a recent rare foray into handicap company off a mark of 108 that saw him show his proper form again. This is his best trip but the company again looks a little warm for him.

Form: 9-91042

(1)

Jallota²⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Spencer| T: C Hills| OR: 111

10/1

Very consistent last year once he got going winning three times with his best performance coming in a Group 3 at Newmarket over 7f and yet to be seen over this far. Record off breaks such as this doesn't read well and likely to need this and could be outclassed at this level.

Form: 33123-3

(5)

Kool Kompany²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: P J Dobbs| T: R Hannon| OR: 114

9/2

From the yard with a tremendous record n this race and after a sojourn in Australia where he failed to sparkle he's returned to GB. Came right back to his best last time out off a break(runs well fresh) to score at Doncaster under a good ride leading right on the line. Doubts remain as whether he can still do it at this level but does have some fancy entries and has to be respected from this yard.

Form: 2/842-18

(3)

Mitchum Swagger¹⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 9-1| J: T P Queally| T: D R Lanigan| OR: 110

14/1

Failed to win last season but did endure some rather luckless runs where the races just didn't pan out for him. Wouldn't be totally sure that he's up to the level and was very disappointing on his last start in 2016 although a slow gallop certainly didn't play to his strengths and he'll need to bounce back here.

Form: 32205-5

(4)

Opal Tiara³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: G Lee| T: M R Channon| OR: 111

22/1

Wins last year at Listed and Group 3 level showed that she was capable of good form and she stepped up on those showings at Meydan in January/February finishing runner-up and winning a Group2 over a mile. She was obviously thriving at the time of the win although the favourite did run poorly in that contest. She ran poorly on her last start though and this looks a more competitive Group 2 than the one she was contesting in Dubai.

Form: 17-2104

(8)

Sovereign Debt¹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 9-1| J: J P Sullivan| T: Mrs R Carr| OR: 110

9/2

Tremendously likeable horse who appears to have been around forever and was a credit to his former trainer for whom he recorded his only win at this level at Doha on his last start for him. Has shaped well for his new handler and gained a deserved win last time out in the AW at Lingfield over this trip. Sure to go well again although not that well drawn for one who likes to race prominently.

Form: 1132-31

(9)

Tashweeq⁵⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 9-1| J: Jim Crowley| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 106

6/1

Not seen since running as a juvenile and making a big impression when winning a Listed race over 7f at Doncaster. Tried in two Group 1's straight after that and came up short now returns after a long break and a fascinating contender from a leading yard although it's hard to know what to expect.

Form: 21146/

(10)

Dawn Of Hope²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 110

5/1

Bookended two solid efforts with wins at Ascot and Deauville in 2016 showing that she was a smart performer. Improved further on that form when running third on her reappearance this year at Doncaster in Listed company over a mile pushing two close who had form at a higher level (one of whom was Kool Komany) and may well do better although this is a fair ask after just eight races.

Form: 1541-37

Non-Runners

(2)

Mondialiste³⁴

Weight: 9-1| Age: 7

T: D O'Meara J: D Tudhope

Forecasts

Sovereign Debt (9/2), Kool Kompany (9/2), Cougar Mountain (5/1), Dawn Of Hope (5/1), Mondialiste (5/1), Tashweeq (6/1), Gabrial (10/1), Jallota (10/1), Mitchum Swagger (14/1), Opal Tiara (22/1)

Anything that the Hannon team run this has to be respected as they have taken this race six time in the last ten years and try to make it a seventh win with Kool Kompany the recent Doncaster winner. Other possibilities abound though and it can be argued that he’ll find this tougher than his last race with the very likeable Sovereign Debt and Dawn of Hope among the dangers. This is probably the right level for Cougar Mountain and he’ll appreciate the ease in grade but a chance is taken with the globe-trotting MONDIALISTE who has taken two Group 1’s abroad and looked to need the run at that level last time out. With that run under his belt he could land his first race on British soil since August 2015.