14:25 Sandown

Friday 26 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes (Group 3)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 2m 7.8s

(3)

Thundering Blue¹⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 9-3| J: Andrea Atzeni| T: D Menuisier| OR: 118| CD

14/1

Previous C&D winner won three times with Group Two York Stakes the highlight. High class individual rates the biggest threat to Crystal Ocean but if that one's on his A-game may have to play second fiddle.

Form: 213120-

(5)

Crystal Ocean¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: R L Moore| T: Sir Michael Stoute| OR: 125| CD

5/6

Won this race 12 months ago and after winning three times at Group Two/Three level he then finished second in a hat-trick of Group One's including neck defeat in the King George. Genuine Group One horse and will take an awful lot of beating.

Form: 111222-

(6)

Extra Elusive^h²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Jason Watson| T: H & R Charlton| OR: 106| D

20/1

Won twice last season before being found out in Newbury Group Three. Started this season with a Listed second but up against it here against established Group horses.

Form: 1/1217-2

(4)

Fabricate^p²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 9-0| J: James Doyle| T: M L W Bell| OR: 107| D

16/1

Seven-time winner including at Group level and went down valiantly by a short-head to Crystal Ocean in this race 12 months ago. Prepped for this year's race in same AW contest although didn't perform as well, more needed.

Form: 24013-4

(1)

Knight To Behold^p1²⁰²

Age: 4| Weight: 9-0| J: Oisin Murphy| T: H J L Dunlop| OR: 116| D

15/2

Not always the most consistent but showed true ability last season when an easy winner form the front in a French Group Two before flopping there next as favourite. Likes to front run and is capable but would appreciate some rain.

Form: 1/10018-

(7)

Pivoine^b²²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: S De Sousa| T: A M Balding| OR: 104| CD

28/1

Five-time winner but tackles Pattern company for the first time and based on his most recent effort at Chelmsford he faces a tough task today.

Form: 14610-6

(2)

Trais Fluors⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 9-0| J: P C Boudot| T: A Fabre| OR: 109

10/3

Group Three winner and Group One placed in native France and raider from this stable always merit respect when crossing the channel. Started the season well at Chantilly and merits respect here on second visit to the UK.

Form: 32571-1

Forecasts

Crystal Ocean (5/6), Trais Fluors (10/3), Knight To Behold (15/2), Thundering Blue (14/1), Fabricate (16/1), Extra Elusive (20/1), Pivoine (28/1)

It's hard to get away from last year's winner CRYSTAL OCEAN here. He subsequently won at Group Two level before finishing third in three Group One races all against top-class rivals and as a result looks a cut above these rivals. A chance is taken on Knight To Behold to finish second, this mercurial talent showed his worth at Deauville last season and is a danger to all if getting an easy lead. Thundering Blue will run a solid race as ever and is capable of capitalising if the favourite underperforms.