16:15 Sandown

Wednesday 20 September 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1516:4517:15

Molson Coors Handicap

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 2m 10.48s

(3)

Trading Punches¹⁰⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-8| J: S M Levey| T: D H Brown| OR: 86

11/1

Wide margin winner of a weak maiden as a juvenile but his second to Fire Brigade in May looks a good run now. Hung under pressure here in June and off the course since. Probably best watched with the stable having drawn a blank since July.

Form: 4519-25

(2)

Jupiter Light⁷⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-7| J: L Dettori| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 85| CD

5/1

C&D winner here in June in blinkers. Faded tamely in cheekpieces next time off this harshly revised mark and he will require all his rider's persuasive powers to score.

Form: 100715

(4)

Mister Blue Sky¹⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Mitch Godwin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Kirk| OR: 84| CD

4/1

Settled better and ridden closer to the pace when scoring over C&D three weeks ago. 5lb rise seems fair enough and he is clearly improving despite a busy campaign.

Form: 161771

(7)

Music Seeker⁵⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 9-6| J: Ryan Tate| T: J M P Eustace| OR: 84

4/1

Landed a Newmarket maiden on his reappearance and not disgraced in two starts since despite not looking particularly well-handicapped. That still appears the case and he may need softer conditions than forecast.

Form: 6-163

(6)

War Of Succession²⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-4| J: E J Walsh⁽³⁾| T: A G Newcombe| OR: 82

100/1

Landed a Beverley maiden on his last start for Andrew Balding but finished last on debut for current yard. Blinkers worn when successful are still dispensed with and he is hard to recommend.

Form: 22-3510

(11)

The Statesman¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-3| J: Jim Crowley| T: Ian Williams| OR: 81| C

11/4

Scored here in June (1m1f) and last two runs have been good efforts. Found an improver too good at Doncaster and then just failed to score in a Class Two contest. Should get a decent pace to help him settle and the stiff finish obviously suits.

Form: 317632

(9)

Lightly Squeeze^p,h³²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: S W Kelly| T: P Hide| OR: 78| D

33/1

Has two victories to his name with both coming over this trip. Found his current mark too much last time and the handicapper has not relented.

Form: 166617

(10)

Rosarno^b,t¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 9-0| J: R Winston| T: C Hills| OR: 78

14/1

Handicapper overestimated his juvenile maiden victory and he looks more fairly assessed now. Pulled-up after losing his action here last time but he looks a tricky ride and is probably best watched.

Form: 51-046P

(8)

Makkadangdang¹⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 8-9| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 73

9/1

Last seen in May when runner-up to an odds-on favourite in a minor maiden. Flattered by his proximity to the winner and has plenty to find.

Form: 552-2

Non-Runners

(1)

Stone The Crows³²

Weight: 9-8| Age: 3

T: H & R Charlton J: K Shoemark

(5)

Rake's Progress¹¹

Weight: 9-3| Age: 3

T: H Main J: David Egan

Forecasts

The Statesman (11/4), Mister Blue Sky (4/1), Music Seeker (4/1), Jupiter Light (5/1), Stone The Crows (6/1), Rake's Progress (6/1), Makkadangdang (9/1), Trading Punches (11/1), Rosarno (14/1), Lightly Squeeze (33/1), War Of Succession (100/1)

A few of these have questions to answer with Jupiter Light, Stone The Crows and Rosarno all disappointing last time. Mister Blue Sky has more to do under this revised mark but may find Rake's Progress setting the race up nicely for him. The latter has claims on his emphatic Newbury victory and he can be expected to give a bold show from the front. In doing so he will also help THE STATESMAN who appreciates a decent gallop and an uphill finish. There have been signs lately that his yard are returning to form and this looks much easier than his last race.