12:55 Sandown

Saturday 7 July 2018

All12:2012:5513:3014:1014:4515:2015:55

Coral Challenge (Handicap)

Off time: 12:57 | Winning time: 1m 39.73s

(13)

South Seas⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-10| J: Oisin Murphy| T: A M Balding| OR: 105| C

12/1

Won his first three career starts including a Group 3 success and he was placed in Group 1 company later that season. Only seen twice last year and hasn't looked the same force since but a fourth of 12 at Chester was encouraging last time at least.

Form: 62/50-74

(1)

Escobar¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: D Tudhope| T: D O'Meara| OR: 102| D

9/1

Listed winner as a juvenile and gained a first win since in handicap company at Haydock two starts back. Wouldn't be the most consistent sort and failed to back that up last time out at Royal Ascot; may need some relief from the handicapper.

Form: 79-0310

(12)

Raising Sand¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 9-5| J: A Kirby| T: J A Osborne| OR: 100| D

8/1

Came on for his reappearance with a good seventh of 30 at Royal Ascot last time out. Remains on the same mark and usually needs a bit of luck in running but ought to run well.

Form: 6143-07

(2)

Original Choice⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 9-2| J: T Hamilton| T: W J Haggas| OR: 97| D

20/1

Progressive sort who won a competitive renewal of the Hunt Cup at Wetherby when last seen and form of that race working out well. 3lb rise for the win entirely fair but return to quicker ground not necessarily a positive here.

Form: 2122-01

(10)

Daira Prince^b¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: R Varian| OR: 95| D

9/1

Arrives here bidding for a hat-trick after two wins from two starts this season. Still lightly raced and shaped like there was more to come last time out.

Form: 1410-11

(9)

Pouvoir Magique³²

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: James Doyle| T: J & T Gosden| OR: 94| BF| D

13/2

Disappointed when odds-on in a hat-trick bid at Newcastle last time out but probably paid the price for being prominent in a strongly run race. No doubt he's better than that and may be capable of bouncing back here.

Form: 1471-19

(7)

Via Serendipity^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 8-13| J: Fran Berry| T: S C Williams| OR: 94| CD

8/1

Won a decent handicap over C&D here last time out and clearly thriving this season. Fast ground over 1m his optimum conditions and he's worthy of respect only up 4lb for his latest success.

Form: 51-3521

(14)

Masham Star⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: W Buick| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 93| D

25/1

Didn't need to improve to justify favouritism in a handicap at Windsor last time. More needed from his revised mark in a deeper contest here though and he's not the most consistent sort, particularly on turf.

Form: 024041

(15)

Isomer¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 8-12| J: Joshua Bryan⁽⁵⁾| T: A M Balding| OR: 93| D

25/1

Got his head back in front at Chelmsford last time out. Needs to build on that now 4lb higher in a deeper race but the booking of a useful apprentice taking off 5lb will help and there's a suspicion we haven't seen the best of him yet.

Form: 68-2301

(6)

Manson^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-11| J: J F Egan| T: D J S Ffrench Davis| OR: 92| CD

16/1

C&D winner just over two years ago and hasn't won a race since but he ran well over C&D last time out on seasonal bow. Will need to come on for that run off this mark if he's to have a say in this deeper contest.

Form: 35300-2

(8)

Master Carpenter¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 8-10| J: Rossa Ryan⁽³⁾| T: B R Millman| OR: 91| CD

25/1

Losing run starting to mount up now and while he's clearly becoming well-handicapped on old form, he needs softer ground to be seen at his best.

Form: 440-044

(4)

Rufus King¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 8-10| J: Wayne Lordan| T: C & M Johnston| OR: 100

40/1

Won a Newmarket handicap towards the end of 2017 but he's been struggling off this sort of mark so far this season and shaped as if amiss when tailed off at Ascot last time. Has a bit to prove at present and he's second string on jockey bookings.

Form: 205350

(3)

Chiefofchiefs^p²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 8-9| J: S Donohoe| T: C Fellowes| OR: 90| BF| CD

15/2

C&D winner two starts back and ran well back here last time despite going off favourite when probably given too much to do. Not always the quickest away but handicap mark is workable.

Form: 04-5614

(5)

Tigre du Terre²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-8| J: Tom Marquand| T: R Hannon| OR: 98

9/2

Gained a first win since debut when dropped a long way in class and a 1/9 fav at Ripon two starts back. Ran with credit at Maisons-Laffitte last time out and he's on a nice handicap mark. Should run well.

Form: 32-2312

(16)

Rum Runner²¹

Age: 3| Weight: 8-0| J: Hollie Doyle| T: R Hannon| OR: 88| C

16/1

Both career wins have come here over 7f including his run here last time out when impressive. Shapes like he will stay this trip but this is tougher and he's 2lb out of the handicap here.

Form: 0417-51

Non-Runners

(11)

Secret Art¹⁷

Weight: 8-13| Age: 8

T: W J Knight J: Jim Crowley

Forecasts

Tigre du Terre (9/2), Pouvoir Magique (13/2), Chiefofchiefs (15/2), Via Serendipity (8/1), Raising Sand (8/1), Escobar (9/1), Daira Prince (9/1), South Seas (12/1), Rum Runner (16/1), Manson (16/1), Original Choice (20/1), Secret Art (20/1), Masham Star (25/1), Master Carpenter (25/1), Isomer (25/1), Rufus King (40/1)

VIA SERENDIPITY won over course and distance last time out and with just a 4lb rise to cope with and given he's run well on each of his four stats this season, he should be capable of making his presence felt here. Daira Prince is unexposed and capable of progression for a yard that do well with these types. South Seas can't be ruled out after a more encouraging run last time out.