19:35 Sandown

Thursday 8 June 2017

All18:0018:3019:0019:3520:0520:40

Boodles Diamond Handicap

Off time: 19:37 | Winning time: 2m 9.5s

(2)

Trading Punches²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: S M Levey| T: D H Brown| OR: 88

9/1

Well suited to softer conditions, as seen at Newmarket last month when finishing a close second in a 1m handicap. Gives the impression the step up in trip will suit even better and he could come on for that run. Leading player.

Form: 94519-2

(6)

Hold Sway^p²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: James Doyle| T: C Appleby| OR: 87| D

9/4

Off the mark at the fourth attempt last time having been a beaten well backed favourite on two of his three previous efforts. Runner-up has come out and won from that contest so the form has been franked but handicap mark looks a little steep on what he's achieved so far.

Form: 2321

(4)

Ghayyar²⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: L Dettori| T: R Hannon| OR: 84

7/1

Won his maiden at Newmarket in fine style in August and went close at that course again in October. A little disappointing on both AW starts either side of that but may come on for the most recent effort at Chelmsford. Not dismissed but others possibly more progressive.

Form: 0152-04

(1)

On To Victory^h,v1¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Tom Marquand| T: Eve Johnson Houghton| OR: 84

7/2

Finally off the mark last time at Leicester and appears to have improved throughout the off-season. 8lb looks a little harsh for that most recent win but proven in the conditions and the step up in trip could bring about more improvement. Wears a first-time visor and hood is retained.

Form: 0337-21

(3)

Rosarno^b1,t²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: Jim Crowley| T: C Hills| OR: 81

25/1

Won a 14-runner maiden towards the end of last seen at Newbury and that race has produced several subsequent winners. Played up in the stalls before disappointing at Windsor on his return to action but expected to do better here in first-time blinkers.

Form: 51-0

(7)

Frontispiece²⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 81

5/2

Shamardal colt who stayed on well on debut to win a 13-runner maiden at Ascot in September. Not a whole lot of speed in his pedigree but he does hold a Group 2 entry for the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, so connections obviously think he'll get this step up in trip. Quite possible this is a prep run and softer ground may not be ideal, market may reveal expectations.

Form: 1-

(5)

Viking Hoard³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: David Probert| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 77

25/1

Aggressive front-runner but seemingly has his limitations and finished fourth of eight in a weaker race than this at Salisbury last time. Won't get an easy lead here and will probably struggle off this kind of mark for now but return to softer conditions could suit at least.

Form: 9517-4

Forecasts

Hold Sway (9/4), Frontispiece (5/2), On To Victory (7/2), Ghayyar (7/1), Trading Punches (9/1), Rosarno (25/1), Viking Hoard (25/1)

A competitive looking handicap but it's top-weight TRADING PUNCHES who makes most appeal and he looks set to get his conditions here while the step up in trip could see him take another step forward. Frontispiece holds an entry for Royal Ascot and he would want to be going close here if he is to justify that entry. Rosarno was restless in the stalls on his return to action at Windsor but he may do better if his temperament doesn't get the better of him here.